2002/688/EC: Commission Decision of 24 May 2000 approving a single programming document of Community structural assistance under Objective 1 in the region of Norra Norrland, namely the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten, in Sweden (notified under document number C(2000) 1408)

Commission Decision
of 24 May 2000
approving a single programming document of Community structural assistance under Objective 1 in the region of Norra Norrland, namely the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten, in Sweden
(notified under document number C(2000) 1408)
(Only the Swedish text is authentic)
(2002/688/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1), and in particular Article 15(5) thereof,
After consultation of the Committee on the Development and Conversion of Regions, the Committee pursuant to Article 147 of the Treaty, the Committee on Agricultural Structures and Rural Development and the Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
Whereas:
(1) Article 13 et seq. of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 lay down the procedure for preparing and implementing single programming documents.
(2) Article 15(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 provides that, after consultation with the partners referred to in Article 8 of the Regulation, the Member State may submit to the Commission a development plan which is treated as a draft single programming document, and which contains the information referred to in Article 16 of the Regulation.
(3) Under Article 15(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, the Commission, on the basis of the regional development plan submitted by the Member State and within the partnership established in accordance with Article 8 of the Regulation, is to take a decision on the single programming document, in agreement with the Member State concerned and in accordance with the procedures laid down in Articles 48 to 51.
(4) The Swedish Government submitted to the Commission on 23 November 1999 an acceptable draft single programming document for the region of Norra Norrland, namely the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten, fulfilling the conditions for Objective 1 pursuant to Articles 3(1) and 7(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999. The draft contains the information listed in Article 16 of the Regulation, and in particular a description of the priorities selected and an indication of the financial contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), Guidance Section, and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).
(5) The date of submission of the draft which was considered acceptable by the Commission constitutes the date from which expenditure under the plan is eligible. Under Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, it is necessary to lay down the final date for the eligibility of expenditure.
(6) The rural development measures to be financed by the EAGGF are governed, in particular as regards accounting and the measures' compatibility and consistency with common agricultural policy measures, by Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain regulations(2).
(7) The single programming document has been drawn up in agreement with the Member State concerned and within the partnership.
(8) The Commission has satisfied itself that the single programming document is in accordance with the principle of additionality.
(9) Under Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, the Commission and the Member State are required to ensure, in a manner consistent with the principle of partnership, coordination between assistance from the funds and from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other existing financial instruments.
(10) The EIB has been involved in drawing up the single programming document in accordance with the provisions of Article 15(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 and has declared itself prepared to contribute to its implementation with the estimated loan amounts indicated in this Decision in conformity with its statutory provisions.
(11) The financial contribution from the Community available over the entire period and its year-by-year breakdown are expressed in euro. The annual breakdown must be consistent with the relevant financial perspective. Under Article 7(7) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, the Community contribution has already been indexed at a rate of 2 % per year. Under Articles 7(7) and 44(2) of the Regulation, the Community contribution may be reviewed at mid-term, and not later than 31 December 2004, to take account of the effective level of inflation and the allocation of the performance reserve.
(12) Provision should be made for adapting the financial allocations of the priorities of this single programming document within certain limits to actual requirements reflected by the pattern of implementation on the ground, in agreement with the Member State concerned,