The organizers of an Elton John concert in Italy has been told to pay back the money they used to stage the event.
The € 720,000 (£ 613,000) came from the European Union as part of a fund to promote regional development in the region of Campania. Sir Elton was headlining a festival in Naples last year.
The European Commission recently that some of its funds had been used in a concert of one of the biggest names in music.
The case was brought to light Borghezio, the Italian parliament since the Northern League, which said it will allow EU money that was "shameful".
After reviewing the allegations, the Commission sent a letter this week to the Italian Government and authorities of Campania ask them to repay the money.
Commission spokesman Ton Van Lierop said that the concert was outside the scope of the funding program.
The pop star appeared on the festival Piedigrotta in September 2009, in Naples Piazza del Plebiscito in a concert that drew an audience of 100,000, and was broadcast live on state television.
Dario Scalabrini, artistic director, told The Associated Press the event would promote the Naples area and the concert did exactly that.
The rest of the EU funds, estimated to be approximately € 2.25 m (3 million, 2 million pounds), is not involved, although the investigation is part of a wider review of EU-funded projects in Campania.
The € 720,000 (£ 613,000) came from the European Union as part of a fund to promote regional development in the region of Campania. Sir Elton was headlining a festival in Naples last year.
The European Commission recently that some of its funds had been used in a concert of one of the biggest names in music.
The case was brought to light Borghezio, the Italian parliament since the Northern League, which said it will allow EU money that was "shameful".
After reviewing the allegations, the Commission sent a letter this week to the Italian Government and authorities of Campania ask them to repay the money.
Commission spokesman Ton Van Lierop said that the concert was outside the scope of the funding program.
The pop star appeared on the festival Piedigrotta in September 2009, in Naples Piazza del Plebiscito in a concert that drew an audience of 100,000, and was broadcast live on state television.
Dario Scalabrini, artistic director, told The Associated Press the event would promote the Naples area and the concert did exactly that.
The rest of the EU funds, estimated to be approximately € 2.25 m (3 million, 2 million pounds), is not involved, although the investigation is part of a wider review of EU-funded projects in Campania.

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