Eurocommissaris Hübner in La Rioja (Spanje): Cohesiebeleid optimaal gebruiken om crisis aan te pakken (en)
Danuta Hübner i , European Commissioner i for Regional Policy, will visit the region of La Rioja in Spain on 30 March, where she will meet the President of the Regional Government, Pedro María Sanz Alonso, and members of the Government Council. Commissioner Hübner will also see several projects in the region which have received support through the EU's Cohesion Policy.
Ahead of her visit, Commissioner Hübner stated: "European Cohesion Policy provides regions with secure and long-term investment in infrastructure, business and innovation: in these times of crisis, it is more important than ever that regions make the best possible use of this support. La Rioja is targeting EU investment into the knowledge economy and helping to bridge the technology gap. This type of 'smart investment' is the best way of boosting local economies and supporting regional recovery."
Meeting with President Sanz: Cohesion Policy countering the crisis
During talks with President Sanz, Commissioner Hübner will discuss the state-of-play regarding Cohesion Policy investment in La Rioja, and highlight the role of the policy in helping to counter the financial and economic crisis. In the 2007-2013 budgetary period, the region will benefit from a Cohesion Policy package worth €63.5 million, of which €33.9 million comes from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The funding is chiefly geared towards stimulating business growth by boosting innovation and the knowledge economy (see MEMO/08/378).
As part of its response to the financial crisis, the Commission is accelerating structural fund payments to all of Europe's regions. La Rioja will receive an additional cash advance of €1.2 million in 2009, on top of the €2.3 million it has already received in front-loaded payments since 2007. This will enable it to speed up the implementation of projects supported by the EU and help to boost confidence in the regional economy. Other measures in response to the crisis include increased flexibility and simplification in the management of the structural funds, and an extension of the deadline for using remaining unspent funds allocated under the 2000-2006 budgetary period.
Making best use of EU Funds
Commissioner Hübner will visit several projects which have received EU backing. Her first stop will be a waste treatment and recycling plant in the Ecoparque de la Rioja on the outskirts of Logroño. All waste material from the region is treated in this plant, which is aiming to set a benchmark in rates of waste recovery. This project received €12.5 million in support from the Cohesion Fund during the 2000-2006 budgetary period.
Support to clusters
The Commissioner will also visit the Centro Technológico de la Fombera (Technology Centre) where she will meet information managers from the 'Globaltech' network. This network has received co-financing totalling €1.3 million under the ERDF 'Innovative Actions' programme and links 273 businesses in La Rioja. It has provided support to both existing and new clusters in key regional sectors such as agri/food, metal/mechanics and energy/construction. It has improved links between research centres, industry and public sector bodies and helped to foster the development of the area as a 'knowledge pole'. The site, designed by the architect Alejandro Zaera Polo, hosts the National Training Centre for New Technologies and is widely recognised as a major hub for the promotion of research and development (R&D) and innovation.
The wine sector in La Rioja has attained global renown and is one of the most important sectors in the regional economy (13% of gross value added). Commissioner Hübner will visit the Bodegas Juan Alcorta vineyards before making the final stop on her itinerary at the EU-backed CILENGUA in the Fundación San Millán which specialises in research into the Spanish language (EU contribution: €1 million).
Notes for Editors
Between 2007 and 2013, La Rioja will receive total European investment of €115.1 million, of which €33.9 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), €29.6 million from the European Social Fund (ESF), €51.1 million from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and €0.5 million from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). Spain as a whole will additionally receive almost €560 million from European Territorial Cooperation programmes.
For more information on Cohesion policy in Spain:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/spain/index_en.htm