COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 6 February 1979 concerning the guidelines for Community regional policy

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the guidelines for Community regional policy submitted by the Commission to the Council,

Whereas the strengthening of Community regional policy is one of the conditions upon which the further economic integration of the Community depends;

Whereas, in spite of efforts by the Member States and the Community to speed up the development of the least-favoured regions, the disparities between regions remain;

Whereas the situation in some Community regions is made all the more disturbing by the fact that the economic crisis in the Community since 1973 has led to a lasting decline in growth and has weakened the propensity to invest ; whereas, furthermore, the structural changes which have affected the world economy are involving the Community economy in a process of extensive restructuring, so creating new sources of regional imbalances;

Whereas the establishment of an overall framework for the analysis and formulation of a Community regional policy should therefore be encouraged so that the Commission can propose priorities and guidelines to the Council for Community and national regional policy;

Whereas the guidelines contained in the fourth medium-term economic policy programme stipulate that the implementation of general and sectoral policies in Member States should be accompanied by an examination of their regional impact ; whereas this approach should be extended to embrace the implementation of Community policies;

Whereas national and Community regional policies must be coordinated if a balanced distribution of economic activities in the Community is to be progressively achieved,

HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION:

1. Comprehensive system of analysis and policy formulation for Community regional policy

Regional policy is an integral part of the economic policies of the Community and the Member States. It forms part of the various elements which contribute to the attainment of a high degree of convergence of the economic policies of the Member States (1).

The establishment of a comprehensive system of analysis and policy formulation for Community regional policy should make it possible to establish a common basis of assessment. To this end the Commission, working in close collaboration with the Regional Policy Committee, will prepare a periodic report on the situation and socio-economic developments in the regions of the Community. On the basis of this report the Council will discuss the priorities and guidelines proposed by the Commission.

The Council notes the Commission's intention of establishing this comprehensive system of analysis and policy formulation. To this end, the Commission (1) Council Decision 74/120/EEC of 18.2.1974, OJ No L 63, 5.3.1974. and the Member States will jointly improve the statistical and regional analysis machinery.

2. Assessment of the regional impact of Community policies

The principal Community policies have regional implications, particularly as regards employment.

In accordance with the guidelines set out in the fourth medium-term economic policy programme (1), the Council notes the Commission's intention of taking more systematic account of these implications when formulating and implementing these policies. It states its intention of taking account of these implications when adopting its decisions relating to these policies.

3. Coordination of national regional policies

In order to achieve progressively a balanced distribution of economic activities throughout the Community, coordination of national regional policies and of Community policy is essential. In this connection regional development programmes constitute the most appropriate framework for the practical implementation of well organized coordination. From this point of view the coordination of general regional aid schemes constitutes an essential feature.

The Council considers that regular comparative examination, particularly within the Regional Policy Committee, of the various Member States' regional problems, of national regional policies and of the regional policy of the Community is highly desirable from the point of view of achieving such coordination.

(1) OJ No L 101, 24.4.1977.