EU has ordered that Italy give back $1 million, in Euros, that was paid to a concert by Elton John performance in Naples in 2009.

This was after Italy had used about $983,000 in Euros, money for investment in projects in countries within the EU that were much poorer, as the performance fee of the British singer.
The European Commission expressed the action as very inappropriate.

National authorities might wield a lot of flexibility in the use of funds from the EU, although to qualify for them, the cultural projects have to appear as events of a long term nature, mostly in terms of restoration of old buildings, construction of cultural centers and art exhibitions.

Thus, as a spokesperson from the EU, Ton Van Lierop, puts it, a rock concert that is “one-off” hardly qualifies, leading to the request to Italy to return the money.

Elton John had performed in Naples at a festival dubbed Piedigrotta in October of 2009, also broadcast live on the official state television drawing more than 100,000concert spectators.

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