Brussels, 26/01/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has announced that control of the projects supported by the Structural Funds, from the point of view of compliance with environmental standards, will be strengthened and made clear. The Plans submitted by the Member States (Community Support Frameworks) to frame these projects will be examined in relation to respect of the environment, it was announced by the Commissioner responsible for regional policy, Michel Barnier and Environment Commissioner Margo Wallström, following a first bilateral meeting held last week. If the elements contained in these Plans do not "sufficiently" respect the European network of protected natural habitats, Natura 2000, the Commission will insist that the operational programmes - which must be approved by the Commission and serve to implement the Plans by defining the type of projects and eligible beneficiaries for each region - "comprise clear and irrevocable commitments". As far as the projects themselves are concerned, chosen by the Member States, the Community payments could be suspended if they do not respect the European environmental rules.
National programmes were earlier examined with regards respect of the environment, it is recalled at the Commission, and the problems "have always been settled before suspension of payments". Nonetheless, some NGOs, after the fashion of WWF, have protested considerably against the lack of link between the Structural Funds and the Habitats Directive on nature conservation (see EUROPE of 6 March, 1999, p.15). "It is precisely for this reason that we hope to strengthen controls of national programmes", it is said at the Commission.
"The Commissioners in charge will be meeting regularly, depending on topical issues, to discuss interaction between regional and environmental policies", said Commissioner Barnier's spokesman service. The next meeting will take place next month. Meetings come at a time when the Commission is preparing to examine the national programmes for application of Structural Funds, but also at a time when, in Germany, it is said that application of environmental rules could block the payments of regional policy projects launched during the previous programming year, 1994-1999.