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Structural Funds




Together with the Common Agricultural Policy , the structural and cohesion funds make up the great bulk of EU funding, and the majority of total EU spending.


OBJECTIVES

Under the Structural Funds there are 3 Objectives:
  • Objective 1: promoting the development and structural adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind;

  • Objective 2: supporting the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties;

  • Objective 3: supporting the adaptation and modernisation of policies and systems of education, training and employment.


These objectives are met through four major funds:

# European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
# European Social Fund (ESF)
# Financial Instruments For Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)
# European Agricultural Guidance And Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)


FUNDING

For 2000-2006, €135bn is allocated to 50 "Objective 1" regions, with 22% of the EU population. The primary criterion for inclusion as "Objective 1" is for a region having less than 75% of average EU GDP per capita. The accession of 10 new member states in Eastern Europe on 1 May 2004 has meant that many of the poorer regions in western Europe no longer qualify; there are some transition arrangements. All Objective 1 regions with less than 90% of EU GDP per capita average have access to the Cohesion Fund.

Most EU funding is not paid directly by the European Commission but via the national and regional authorities of the Member States. {Link without Title}


SEE ALSO



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