Elton John Italy Concert Should be Paid Back, EU Says

Elton John performs onstage at The Citizens Business Bank Arena on November 5, 2010 in Ontario, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Elton John performed a concert last year in Italy and the EU has ordered the country to pay back around $1 million in developmental funding used for the event, according to a BBC report.

John headlined the concert as part of a plan to increase development in the Campania area, but an Italian MEP told the BBC that using the funds in such a manner was “shameful.”

John is not accused of any wrongdoing, the report noted.

The EU only recently determined that the funds were used for the Rocket Man singer’s concert.

EU spokesperson Ton Van Lierop said the EU sent a letter to Italy’s Finance Ministry on Friday as the European Commission is “taking this matter really seriously,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

The funds were supposed to be used to develop the area, and EU officials are afraid that more funds were misallocated.

The Naples concert was attended by more than 100,000 people and was broadcast live on television.

Van Lierop told the BBC that the money would be taken back “by deducting from the next (EU) payments.”