The European Commission is to ask Poland to clarify how it spends money from the European Social Fund ESF following claims that Dutch multinationals may have wrongly benefited, Trouw reports on Wednesday.

On Saturday the paper said major multinationals such as ING, Unilever and Philips have had millions of euros from special EU development funds to stimulate employment in poorer regions such as Poland.
The money is supposed to be spent on ‘strengthening the knowledge and skills of employees at Polish companies, largely small and medium-sized firms’. However, says Trouw, some of the cash has been spent on courses for managers at big companies.
Social affairs commissioner László Andor told the paper he is to ask the Polish authorities to clarify the spending but said big companies can benefit from the fund if they have a good reason.
Dutch members of the European parliament have also asked for more information. ‘If this was not done properly, the money should be paid back,’ Trouw quoted VVD MEP Jan Mulder as saying.
Earlier stories
Dutch multinationals benefit from EU investment funds