A4-0284/96

Resolution on the Commission Decision on the establishment of the Community support framework for Community structural assistance in the Irish regions concerned by Objective 1, which is the whole country (C4-0037/96)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission Decision on the establishment of the Community support framework for Community structural assistance in the Irish regions concerned by Objective 1, which is the whole country (C4-0037/96),

- having regard to the second Community support framework for the economic and social development of Ireland,

- having regard to the national development plan (1994-1999) submitted to the Commission on 8 October 1993 by the Irish Government,

- having regard to the outcome of the public hearing on 7 May 1996,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Policy and the opinion of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment (A4-0284/96),

A. whereas the economic and social development of Ireland is beset by various problems arising from:

- the peripheral situation of the island and its low population density,

- the insufficient degree of diversification of its rural economy,

- the country's dependence on foreign-owned companies,

- the weakness of its domestic industry,

- the lack of vocational training,

B. whereas the Irish economy has a number of key assets, including:

- a young and active population,

- significant potential for tourism,

- the steady application of a rigorous and consistent national economic policy,

C. whereas the second Community support framework, following on from the first, confirms Ireland's policy and the efforts it has made to pursue its economic and social development with a view to attaining the Community average and meeting the conditions for participating in EMU,

D. having regard to the important role played by structural assistance under Objective 1 in Ireland since 1989,

1. Notes that the means deployed and strategy adopted during the first phase of the Community support framework (1989-1993) made an important contribution to Ireland's development, thanks to the sustained efforts and consistency of the policy pursued at national level;

2. Notes that, during this period:

- Ireland's economic growth increased on average to 5% of GNP, the best performance of any Member State of the EU,

- employment rose by almost 2% per annum,

- the balance of payments, which was marginally in deficit in 1989, was in surplus by 8% of GNP in 1995,

- the budget deficit continued to decline to below 2%, in line with public borrowing (85% of GDP at the end of 1995);

3. Approves, therefore, the justified increase in the resources allocated to pursue the second phase of implementation of the CSF (1994-1999) and the four priorities established by the second CSF for this period;

4. Welcomes, having regard to the high level of unemployment, the emphasis placed by the CSF on human resource development, since it is only the more highly qualified employees who will be able to take full advantage of the new job opportunities brought into being through ERDF assistance;

5. Stresses, however, that it is imperative to make every effort during this period, both at national and Community level, to make more effective inroads on unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment, the actual incidence of which is much higher than statistics indicate, even though it is tending to fall, despite a marked trend for Irish nationals to return from abroad and the growing number of women in work;

6. Considers therefore that the mid-term review of the national development plan (1994-1999) should be used as an opportunity to make any adjustments which might be necessary to tackle the problem of long-term unemployment and to strengthen the regional economic base - working in particular in line with the European strategy for local development and employment initiatives drawn up by the Commission;

7. Hopes that the integrated ESF-ERDF interventions will be strengthened so that measures to improve education and qualifications can be more effectively coordinated with job-creating investment, thereby making it possible to achieve stronger synergy effects;

8. Supports the objective of reducing the high levels of school drop-out and of young people with no job qualifications, and considers, given the absence of training places for two thirds of young school drop-outs (5 500 training places for 14 500 young people), that these efforts must be stepped up, since without well grounded educational and initial occupational training, the danger of decline into long-term unemployment will increase enormously;

9. Calls also for stronger financial support for social infrastructure measures, which would open up new education, training and employment opportunities for women, particularly for disadvantaged women;

10. Calls, in view of the fact that women account for only 2% of apprenticeship training places, for ESF and ERDF appropriations to promote equal opportunities for women to be increased;

11. Expects there to be an improved take-up rate of the new options for assisting the disabled introduced under the 1993 Structural Fund reform;

12. Expresses its concern at the fact that, at 14% of the appropriations available for Objectives 3 and 4, the level of Objective 4 operations for adjusting workers' qualifications to industrial change is very low;

13. Considers that it is crucial, for Ireland's economic and social future, to:

- develop and diversify its agricultural sector, hence the importance of the LEADER II programme,

- modernize the fisheries sector, including related industries, and aquaculture, to restore their opportunities for development,

- create new opportunities for the development and diversification of a year-round, high-quality tourist industry,

- apply the principle of long-term environmentally acceptable development, in other words 'sustainable development';

14. Emphasizes that it is imperative, since the country is an island, to make continuous progress towards the completion of the necessary road, rail, port and airport infrastructures, giving due consideration to environment- friendly transport systems, such as shipping and rail, as well as to socially accessible transport systems, such as any form of public transport;

15. Notes that the state of implementation of the second CSF is satisfactory, as reflected in commitments at 98.9% of commitment appropriations and payments at 87.2%, but considers, in the light of the experience acquired in the 1989-1993 period, that there is room for improvement in the coordination of the various intervention measures and the application of the principle of partnership;

16. Urges improved coordination between national and local ESF project- implementing bodies; calls for there to be stronger participation by the two sides of industry and non-governmental organizations in programme implementation so that ESF spending can be of direct benefit to the most disadvantaged people in Irish society;

17. Urges that there be stronger regionalization of interventions to restore convergence between the poorer and richer regions of Ireland, with the emphasis being placed on strengthening assistance for local employment initiatives and assistance for small and medium-sized undertakings;

18. Welcomes the Irish authorities' commitment to setting up a national certification system, and stresses that both employers and organisations working in vocational education or with the unemployed need to be involved in the establishment of that system to ensure that it is recognised widely by employers.

19. Considers also that it is essential, in view of the strong presence of foreign interests in Ireland, to strengthen the capacity of its domestic industry, particularly SMUs, to secure greater economic autonomy for the country;

20. Confirms its commitment to the implementation of the PEACE programme for Ireland and stresses the importance of cross-border cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, both at the economic and the political level;

21. Recalls that, without economic and social cohesion, there is no prospect of a viable EMU; calls on the Commission therefore, together with the national and local authorities, to study means of ensuring that, come 1999, and assuming that Ireland as a whole will no longer be eligible for Objective 1, any regions still needing such assistance could be fully assured of all the resources required to strengthen their economic and social cohesion;

22. Calls for a new approach in the future to the definition of eligibility criteria for Objective 1 regions, and considers that unemployment should be one of the criteria;

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