Brussels, 28/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Michel Barnier signed on Monday with the Greek authorities the Community Support Framework for "Objective 1" aid from 2000- to 2006. The framework CSF), that was approved at the end of July by the Commission, determines the sectors and types of project that will benefit from Community support, namely in: education, training, road and urban infrastructure, support to SMEs, development of rural areas, environment, information technology. The global amount of aid under Objective 1 for Greece is EUR 22.71 billion, which will be complemented by a financing from the Greek authorities (11.20 billion) and the private sector (10.38 billion). Objective 1 is aimed at regions whose development is lagging behind (GDP per capital below 75% of Community average).
However, the first projects of this new programming period should not be launched before some months. The launching of the projects depends upon the adoption of the "operational programmes" even they are subordinated by the European Commission to the establishment, in Greece, of adequate management authorities. The operational programmes complete and detail the CSF, or for a benefiting region, or for all the regions with a common theme. The Commission has not yet adopted its programmes because it feels that Greece has not provided itself with the suitable management structures required by the new regulations covering Structural Funds.
The Greek Parliament voted on 31 October a law on the administration of these funds and the government announced that the various structures would be in place by next January or February, add Community sources. The Commission should then approve each of the operational programmes, regional or theme based, at the time when the authority responsible for the management has been put in place.