Brussels, 19/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Since August, the European Commission has concluded partnership agreements for the use of the structural funds available between 2014 and 2020 with Romania, Bulgaria and France.
Fifteen further partnership agreements are to be adopted after the summer break. It is anticipated that as they will be contractually bound to the Commission, the member states will be more zealous in absorbing European funding as efficiently as possible, particularly by observing specific targets.
Romania's plans for the €23 billion in its envelope were validated by the European Commission on 6 August, following negotiations. The priorities targeted include the sustainable use of national resources, the development of transport and telecommunications infrastructure, increasing the number of jobs, education and fighting poverty, as well as promoting the competitiveness of the regions of the country. In particular, the agreement provides for €3.9 billion to be made available to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Furthermore, the agreement aims to bring more than 500,000 people out of poverty, with €3.4 billion earmarked for social inclusion. An envelope of €2.2 billion will also serve to help young people to get into the world of work, with a further €1.65 billion for education, including a plan to reduce school drop-out rates. The European Commissioner for Regional Development, Johannes Hahn, says that the strategic investment plan will put Romania on the road to employment and growth for the next decade.
On 7 August, Bulgaria concluded its partnership agreement with the European Commission, with an envelope of €7.6 billion. The fight against unemployment is also a priority for Sofia, as are training, innovation and the quality of administrative services. The specific objectives for Bulgaria include increasing the share of renewable resources by 10% between now and 2020 and reducing the number of people suffering from social exclusion by 260,000. A further aim is to halve the lead time for administrative services.
It was France's turn to sign a partnership agreement on 8 August. This is for €15.9 billion, which will help the country to “continue to move forward on the road to economic recovery and to relaunch growth over the next ten years”, according to Commissioner Hahn. The agreement lays emphasis on support for entrepreneurship and the creation of SMEs, broadband internet and improving competitiveness by reducing goods and services of high value. The reduction of unemployment, school drop-out rates and social exclusion is also a priority, as is increased use of renewable energies.
The Netherlands are to sign a partnership agreement this Friday 22 August. Finland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary may do likewise at the end of this month or early September. (MD)