Brussels, 16/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has adopted the Community Support Framework for Portugal, which sets out the EU's intervention priorities in Portugal's so-called "behind in development" regions (regions in which the per capital GDP is below 75% of the Community average). These areas, which the Commission determined in July last, are eligible for Objective 1 of Community regional policy, for a total of 20,535 million euro for the 2000-2006 period. These areas are: Norte, Alentejo, Algarve, Azores and Madeira.
The Community Support Framework will be followed by operational programmes which, for each of the regions concerned, will set out the type of projects eligible, applying the four pivots of the Community Support Framework. These pivots are:
1) Actions in the fields of education, training and employment, as well as the sciences and innovation. One chapter, moreover, concerns socially excluded populations.
2) Modernisation and development of the industry and services sector, placing emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises.
3) Continuing building the transport infrastructures (links to the trans-European networks) and the environment.
4) Implementation of regional programmes for continental regions, Madeira and the Azores.
Initially scheduled for last week, adoption of the Community Support Programme was delayed by a week due to discussions - with all the States - on implementing the Habitats Directive and the respect, by the Community Support Programme, of the European network of protected natural habitats, Natura 2000. The Commission and Portuguese authorities finally reached agreement, says the Commission, on "a formal undertaking by the Portuguese authorities to forward the list of designated sites under the Habitats Directive at latest by the end of the 3rd quarter 2000".