Brussels, 21/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 October in London, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Pawe³ Samecki, and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced that some of the poorest areas of East London will benefit from £100m of joint funding in a programme of “green” energy projects that will create over 1,000 jobs. This co-funding will finance decentralised energy, recycling and waste energy creation projects. The decision to set up a decentralised energy infrastructure in Barking is currently being examined and would be one of the first projects to benefit from this aid. A press release from the mayor's office explained that these projects aimed to promote sustainable and carbon neutral economic growth, combat climate change and help the capital towards its target of reducing London's CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025.
The Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas fund (JESSICA) is made up of £50 million from the European Regional Development Fund, £32 million from the London Development Agency, and £18 million from the London Waste and Recycling Board. The press release pointed out that the London Development Agency has been working with the European Investment Bank and the London Waste and Recycling Board to ensure that London becomes the first part of the UK to benefit from this initiative. The press release also pointed out that the JESSICA fund will be managed by the European Investment Bank. (G.B./transl.rh)