WRITTEN QUESTION E-3162/00 by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European programmes.
Date: 2000-10-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Structural Funds, eligibility criteria, mountain region, rural development

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/47

Among the raft of measures part-financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the
current 2000-2006 programming period, the urban policy strand (cid:129) and the issue of urban areas in crisis
in particular (cid:129) has become increasingly more important. It should benefit municipalities, as should the
territorial employment pacts which are promoted under various programmes.

A clear trend towards greater local involvement in programme management can be observed during the
present European Social Fund (ESF) programming period across all objectives. Most Member States have
signalled their intention to use the global grant mechanism in order to support better local responsiveness
of programmes. In addition to the programmes under Objectives 1, 2 and 3, the Equal Community
Initiative will operate through development partnerships that will bring together key players, including
local authorities, in a geographical area or sector, pooling their efforts to agree on a common strategy and
work programme to explore new ways of tackling discrimination and inequality in the labour market.

The European Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) funds rural development plans within the frame-
work of the Structural Funds. The municipalities benefit from various types of aid through village renewal
initiatives, the setting up of services essential to the rural economy and environmental protection measures
among others.

In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general
provisions on the Structural Funds (1), the programme approach is used in all areas covered by ERDF,
ESF and EAGGF assistance. Municipalities cannot therefore have direct access to aid but must submit an
application as part of the national or regional programmes administered by the competent government
bodies. Article 8 of the above Regulation defines the concepts of complementarity and partnership, and
the implementation of assistance is the
recalls that,
responsibility of the Member States at the appropriate territorial
level according to the arrangements
specific to each Member State.

the principle of subsidiarity,

in application of

Municipalities may however have direct access to innovative measures under the ESF. Their eligibility for
support depends on the priority areas covered by Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 of the
Council and of the European Parliament of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund (2). In May 2000 the
Commission also launched a call for proposals on preparatory measures for a local commitment for
employment. Municipalities may have access to this support through their national and international
associations or networks in order to develop local employment plans. They are also directly eligible for
support for activities involving the identification and exchange of good practices in connection with local
employment issues.

The Commission would also like to point to the existence of the (cid:145)Grants and loans(cid:146) page on the Europa site
which provides a complete inventory of all existing programmes and how they are financed.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) OJ L 213, 13.8.1999.

(2001/C 163 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3162/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 October 2000)

Subject: European programmes

What European programmes are there for rural and urban areas in mountain regions in Europe for the
period 2000-2006?

C 163 E/48

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Many mountain areas are eligible under Objective 1 or Objective 2 of the Structural Funds for the 2000-
2006 period. With regard to Objective 2, the eligibility criteria established for rural areas in Article 4 of
Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural (1) Funds help highlight the difficulties faced by some mountainous areas.

Mountain areas are also eligible for aid from the Structural Funds under the Community initiatives Leader+
and Interreg III. Examples of this are transnational cooperation projects carried out in the Community(cid:146)s
alpine regions.

The new rural development policy implemented under the common agricultural policy reform will also
offer new opportunities to mountain areas. The development of the agri-environmental measures and the
introduction of a premium for the maintenance of sustainable forests will be particularly relevant to these
regions. The greater emphasis on the environment in the case of compensatory allowances for less-
is accompanied by an increase in these payments of
favoured areas, which include mountain areas,
the farms concerned needing to make any major
between € 25 and € 200 per hectare, without
adjustments. Considered alongside other measures such as support
for quality, diversification (rural
tourism, craft industry) or the renovation of villages, this new rural development policy confirms the
Commission(cid:146)s commitment to promoting these areas.

The Commission recently published a booklet (2) on structural policies and mountain areas which aims to
make mountain regions more aware of the opportunities available to them under Community policies.
This booklet is being sent to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

Furthermore, during 2002 the Commission is planning to organise a seminar for the International Year of
Mountains explaining how to better mobilise Community policies in mountain regions.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.
(2)
ISBN 92-828-8976-9.

(2001/C 163 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3164/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Mart(cid:237)nez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Rural development programmes

(10 October 2000)

The Commission has approved rural development programmes for the period 2000-2006 which concern
the Balearic Islands.

Will it make available a copy of the rural development programmes approved for the Balearic Islands?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Three separate documents deal with rural development programming in the Balearic Islands for the period
2000-06: the horizontal plan for the improvement of production structures, the horizontal plan of
accompanying measures and the rural development plan for the Balearic Islands.