Brussels, 08/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commisson approved on Wednesday the programming document for regional development in Burgenland, the only Austrian region to receive Objective 1 aid (for lagging regions) for 2000-2006. EUR 271 million will thus be contributed by the Community budget, the Commission foreseeing a mobilisation of EUR 494 million in cofinancing by Austrian authorities and the private sector during this period.
The types of projects to be supported by the Objective 1 aid over the seven-year period will concentrate on businesses: development of competitiveness, introduction of venture capital funds, development of new technologies, internationalisation, etc. The Commissioner for regional policy, Michel Barnier, welcomed the fact that the programming document is "based on a strategy of modernisation of this region, on the Union's external frontiers, prior to enlargement".
The document will undergo final adoption after four consultative committees made up of Member State representatives have examined it; approval will then require, barring any substantive changes, a simple decision by Commissioners Barnier, Fischler and Diamantopoulou.