[autom.vertaling] Commissaris Barnier ontmoet ministers verantwoordelijk voor regionaal beleid in nieuwe lidstaten (en)

Michel Barnier, Commissioner responsible for regional policy and institutional reform, today meets in Brussels the ministers responsible for the management of the EU Structural and Cohesion Funds in the countries joining the EU in 2004. Between 2004 and 2006, the ten new Member States can receive an amount of almost € 22 billion through these instruments in order to boost investment, modernise their infrastructure, improve the environment, promote human resource development and create jobs. Commissioner Barnier acknowledged the significant progress made regarding the programming and the creation of administrative capacity. At the same time he underlined the necessity for further efforts, especially concerning the quality of programmes and of the implementing structures. The new Member States can benefit from eligibility from the 1 January 2004 only if they are fully aligned with EU legislation before the end of 2003.

Addressing the ministers, Michel Barnier said: "Much has been achieved since the presentation of the last report on the implementation of necessary requirements for Structural and Cohesion Funds management in July this year. Programme negotiations with all acceding countries are underway and progressing sufficiently well to hope for finalisation before the end of this year. However, further efforts will have to be made, in particular as regards the quality of programmes and projects, but also concerning the capacity of your managing authorities. Sound and efficient management of the funds is not only a requirement but also an issue of credibility, particularly since the debate about the future cohesion policy is ongoing."

Accession negotiations with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Malta and Poland were completed at the European Council in December 2002, agreeing upon an envelope of almost € 22 billion for the Structural and the Cohesion Funds for the period 2004-2006. The amount is split between Member State and has mainly to be spent in the framework of sector and regional programmes, which the Commission services negotiate with the responsible ministries. This process started in July 2003 and should be finalised before the end of 2003.

On 16 July 2003, the Commission presented a report¹ on the progress made in the field of regional policy and co-ordination of structural instruments in the countries acceding to the EU. The report highlighted the progress made, listed outstanding issues and gave advice on the necessary steps to be taken by each country to ensure the sound and efficient implementation of the funds.

The situation differs from country to country, but the majority of them had been advised to speed up preparations particularly in following areas:

• legal alignment, in particular as far as it concerns public procurement legislation;

• finalisation of detailed design for the implementation structures, including the establishment of written agreements with the intermediate bodies;

• establishment of a pipeline of sufficiently prepared projects ready for implementation;

• setting up of monitoring systems as required for financial management and control.

The Commission urges the new Member States to undertake a full inventory in order to ensure that the pre-conditions for retroactive eligibility of expenditure under Structural and Cohesion Funds from 1 January 2004 onwards are fulfilled.

Background

Solidarity among the peoples of the European Union, economic and social progress and reinforced cohesion form part of the Community's overall objectives of, "reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions", as laid down in the Treaty establishing the European Communities. The instruments of solidarity, the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, have a major impact on the competitiveness of regions and contribute significantly to improving the living conditions of their citizens, particularly in the poorer regions. The cohesion policy in the enlarged, unified Europe will face a major challenge to overcome the sharp differences in the level of economic development.

The Structural Funds usually finance multi-annual programmes drawn up in partnership with administrations at national and regional level and aim at enhanced regional growth, competitiveness and job creation. The Cohesion Fund assists Member States to comply with the requirements of Economic and Monetary Union by granting subsidies to major investments in the area of transport and environment.

Between 2000 and 2006, the total allocation for all structural instruments amounts to € 213 billion for the EU of fifteen, plus additional € 22 billion allocated for the ten new Member States between 2004 and 2006. About 70% of this amount is dedicated to regions "whose development is lagging behind" ("Objective 1"), defined by a gross domestic product per head below 75% of the EU average. In the current EU, some fifty regions fall under this definition, home to 83 million inhabitants. A further 73 million people will benefit from this support in the new Member States corresponding to 97% of the total population in these countries.

For more information, plea se consult following websites:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources/docconf/6oct/index_en.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/themes/enlarge_en.htm

¹ Voir : IP/03/1031du 16 juillet 2003