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Promoters of EU-funded Elton John gig told to give grant back
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 22 November 2010
Organisers of that Elton John gig in Naples, that was in part funded by a European Union grant designed to boost local economies in poorer parts of Europe, have been told to pay the grant money back. Although cultural ventures are eligible for EU development grants, the European Commission ruled last week that an Elton John gig didn’t count, even though it was part of the wider Piedigrotta festival.
As previously reported, although the money comes from the EU pot, local authorities in member states decide how to distribute it. If organisers of the Elton concert do not return their grant, future development funds to the Campania region of Italy will be cut accordingly.
The Naples festival’s organisers say the aim of the event was to promote the region for the benefit of local businesses there, and that in that respect their programme, including the Elton gig, was a success. But EC spokesman Ton Van Lierop said: “While cultural events, culture in general, can fall under the scope of [EU grant] programmes, they have to be aimed at structural long-term investments”.
