Brussels, 10/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Community support framework for Objective 1 aids in Ireland is aimed, for the 2000-2006 period, at "spreading out the effects of growth to the country as a whole" and to "resolve the problems which remain (needs in basic infrastructure, shortages in labour in certain sectors…)" announced Commissioner Barnier when signing the CCA, last week in Dublin (see EUROPE of 8 June, p.10).
All of Ireland being previously eligible for Objective , the Border, Midland and West regions remain fully eligible, while the Southern and Eastern regions are not, though they continue to benefit from a phasing-out aid. The CCS priorities are as follows: i) develop the economic infrastructure (roads, public transport, environmental protection), ii) support the improvement of qualifications to reduce the shortages of labour and promote men-women equality, iii) diversify rural activities, iv) promote social integration.
The CCA will be implemented on the basis of seven operational programmes: i) four national programmes for economic and social infrastructure, employment and human resources, the production and technical assistance sectors, ii) a specific programme for each of the two regions; iii) a programme intended to support the Peace II programme at the border with Northern Ireland.
Furthermore, Ireland continues to benefit from the Cohesion Fund, created in 1993 and intended to allow Spain, Greece, Ireland and Portugal to catch up with the other Member States by funding infrastructure projects for transport and the environment. Ireland is expected to receive EUR 567 million by 2003 from this fund, after which the eligibility of the four countries will be reviewed. Ireland should then, according to current forecasts, exceed the limit GNP criterion per habitant less than 90% of the Community average and therefore cease to benefit from the Cohesion Fund.