A4-0257/95

Resolution on the Commission's information document on Structural Funds Innovatory Measures 1995-1999: Guidelines for the second series of actions under Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation (C4-0453/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission's information document on Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2083/93 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No. 2052/88 as regards the European Regional Development Fund) ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 34.)), submitted in accordance with the Code of Conduct of 13 July 1993 on the implementation of structural policies by the Commission ((OJ C 255, 20.9.1993, p. 19.)),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Policy (A4- 0257/95),

A. whereas one of the main policy priorities of the Union is to strive for harmonious development and to promote economic and social cohesion through, among other policies, Structural Fund measures,

B. whereas Structural Fund actions must be implemented in such a way as to achieve effectiveness through concentration of funds in the less-favoured regions, for which specific eligibility criteria have been fixed, with a view to reducing economic and social disparities,

C. whereas there is a need to explore positive regional development strategies derived from more overall horizontal policies, including studies and pilot schemes concerning regional development in general and innovative measures as outlined in Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation,

D. whereas such studies and schemes give an opportunity for participation in European programmes for local and regional authorities in Objective and non- Objective areas covering the whole territory of the Community, and for transfer of know-how between the two,

E. whereas national law in many Member States does not really allow local and regional authorities to set up organizational structures with a legal personality together with local and regional authorities of other Member States,

F. whereas this situation constitutes an unacceptable obstacle to the development of inter-regional cooperation; whereas the rapid establishment of an appropriate legal framework is needed at Community level,

G. whereas, due to the totally unacceptable levels of unemployment throughout the Union and the challenges presented by EMU, new strategies for local and regional development must be explored,

H. whereas local and regional authorities and social partners at the local level must play a vital role in inter-regional cooperation, not only through knowledge and awareness of regional policies and their overall strategies, but also as an essential source and inspiration for locally generated regional development and job creation,

I. whereas a more general involvement of local and regional authorities of the European Union and cooperation between the EU and these authorities, as well as the mutual exchange of experience and information, can make a contribution to reducing the democratic deficit,

J. whereas considerable interest was generated and noticeable results achieved in the previous funding period concerning the use of Article 10 funding,

K. whereas local development initiatives represented the principal rationale for the initiation of Article 10 and were subsequently reinforced in the revision of the Structural Fund Regulations in 1993,

L. whereas such participation at local level is essential to the successful implementation of the Structural Funds, and in planning and developing programmes,

M. whereas the vast majority of local authorities in Europe have no direct contact with and little awareness of the programmes of the European Union,

N. whereas procedural barriers exist in the Structural Funds in general and Article 10 in particular, which impede such contact and awareness by smaller authorities and others without a record of previous involvement in European programmes,

O. whereas the Council is seeking to consider potential projects in advance of ratification by the European Commission, which was not the procedure adopted in the first funding period of Article 10,

P. whereas up to 1% of Structural Fund resources for 1995-99, totalling ECU 141 billion (1992 prices), can be committed for Article 10 measures; whereas the proposed commitments amount to around ECU 400 million only,

Q. whereas Parliament created budget line B2-600 to promote exchange of experience between local and regional authorities,

R. whereas there is a need to create a synergy between Article 10 programmes, development of the remainder of the Structural Funds including Community Initiatives, and the other policies and programmes of the Union,

S. whereas the evolution towards or creation of a legislative framework at Union level may help overcome existing problems of social and economic exclusion and of environmental degradation in urban areas,

1. Calls on the Commission to provide guidelines which are clear, concise and flexible, but which will not act as a constraint to innovation or creativity;

2. Suggests that the aim of promoting local and regional sustainable development, participation and partnership should underlie all of the activities under Article 10 and bring new coherence to the programme;

3. Calls on the Commission to make a series of changes in order to promote participation from smaller authorities and others without a record of participation in European programmes, namely, through decentralized dissemination of information; stimulation at both Union and Member State level by drafting documents in language comprehensible to those concerned; flexible amounts of co-finance; the setting up of a single technical assistance office working where possible with existing regionally-based associations in order to assist from the application stage to project completion; respect for different competences for local government in different Member States; placing emphasis on experimental aspects; waiving minimum population and financial thresholds; giving priority to projects managed directly by local and regional authorities and giving priority to proposals including such partners in order to achieve the principle of equal opportunity of access to the programme for all local and regional authorities of any size;

4. Calls on the Council to desist from considering individual project proposals, allowing for a direct and non-bureaucratic process of ratification between the Commission and the local/regional authorities concerned;

5. Calls on the Council to take steps to ensure, firstly, that local and regional authorities can be more actively involved in drawing up their own projects and, secondly, that decision-making pays greater heed to and is more closely consistent with the priorities laid down by those authorities;

6. Draws the Commission's attention to the fact that, when calls for tender are issued for the purposes of selecting the measures under Article 10, some projects may come under several of the objectives proposed and calls on it to show the necessary flexibility and to make provision for this eventuality when the calls for tender are drafted;

7. Calls on the Commission to enter into a true spirit of partnership with associations of local and regional authorities at all stages of development of the Article 10 programme, including direct representation on the independent panel of experts, and eligibility for making applications on behalf of some or all of their member authorities;

8. Calls on the competent budgetary authorities to take action to ensure that the 1% threshold for 1995-99 is achieved and requests that the amounts for regional economic development be increased as soon as possible to give parity with inter-regional cooperation;

9. Requests that budget line B2-600 is maintained and strengthened to enlarge the scope for participation of smaller local and regional authorities and provide more opportunities for exchanges of experience;

10. Calls on the Commission to promote communication and exchanges between those involved in inter-regional cooperation by devising, using information technologies and super highways, the instruments needed for the communication and dissemination of information on cooperation initiatives;

11. Suggests to this end that a computer server be set up on an Internet site of the EUROPA type to offer those involved in inter-regional cooperation instant access to all data concerning regulations and technologies of use in such cooperation, to allow them to disseminate the results of their work, exchange experience or submit ideas and seek partners with a view to future actions;

12. Considers that more attention should be given to maritime and peripheral regions especially in the new entrant countries, to regions without regional government, and to projects which contribute to the objectives of Europe 2000+ and emerging Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European Strategies;

13. Requests that urban pilot projects also be available to smaller towns and cities outside Objective areas, for example to new towns and seaside towns in decline, and that studies concerning the coordinated impact of different European policies on urban areas and neighbouring rural areas be pursued;

14. Requests that groups of small municipalities belonging to a common district or area should be able to take part as a whole in actions of the Article 10 programme, so that local cooperation within homogenous areas run by different small municipalities can be strengthened; in so doing, local synergies can develop and improve, as well as chances for working at European level;

15. Points out that environmental sustainability has not yet been identified as a priority under Article 10 and suggests that this be integrated in all spatial planning projects in particular, as well as in local and regional development strategies so as to assist in the implementation of Local Agenda 21;

16. Supports the development of local and regional economic development strategies as a necessary countervailing force to the centralizing effects of the Single Market and of future EMU, and as a vital component to the fight against mass unemployment;

17. Calls on the Commission to enhance the role of local development in the mainstream Structural Funds and to improve their effectiveness in direct job creation;

18. Requests a new area of action in relation to innovation in citizen participation and democratic initiatives in order to combat exclusion of disadvantaged groups;

19. Calls on the Commission to encourage local authorities to involve cooperatives and non-profit-making organizations as full partners in the drawing up and execution of pilot projects, in particular those concerning potential sources of jobs, cooperation regarding local development and urban projects;

20. Supports funding of local and regional authorities in both eligible and non- eligible areas;

21. Supports, therefore, a continuation and increase of activities funded under Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation;

22. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.