Accountability would also be strengthened with the production of annual reports for each state and strict financial controls. The Commission would be allowed to intervene in cases of suspected fraud. Regions whose GDP per head is less than 75 per cent of the EU average. Aid will be phased out over a six to seven year period to areas no longer entitled. Aid to be targeted to areas facing industrial decline and structural change, rural areas suffering from depopulation, deprived urban zones, coastal towns dependent on fisheries.
Unemployment is a key criteria in assessing areas to qualify.
European Social Fund with assistance going towards tackling high unemployment, combating poverty or helping those living on the margins, education and training, anticipating economic change, promoting opportunities for women. They have not generally proved popular elsewhere. Cohesion Fund 20.8 Enlargement 46.8 Total 286 Northern Ireland and Agenda 2000 Northern Ireland will be particularly affected by the Agenda 2000 proposals. The economy of the province will be affected by the proposals radically to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, and its status as a priority region for EU Structural Funds is also under threat. At present Northern Ireland is designated as an Objective One region for EU regional and social funds.