Brussels, 13/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - As we announced yesterday, the European Commission approved two operational programmes 2000-2006 for Objective 1 aid to Greece, thus marking its assent for the reform of the European aid management structures undertaken by Greece. These two first documents concern information society (EUR 1.7 billion from the EU, and 1.1 billion from the Greek public authorities and the private sector) and the competitiveness of the Greek economy (EUR 1.97 billion from the EU, up to 4 billion from public and private funds). The Commission announced that it would approve most of the remaining 24 programmes in March, and the last by the end of April. Greece will benefit from a total of EUR 21.3 billion in Community aid under Objective 1 aimed at regions said to be lagging behind in their development (GDP per capita below 75% of the Community average).
While the delay in the adoption of the Greek programmes was mainly due to the administrative structures that the Commission considered insufficient (see EUROPE of 29 November, p.15), Greece reformed this system and the Commissioner responsible for regional policy, Michel Barnier, "congratulates the Greek authorities on the efforts they have made to establish a solid basis for implementation: a new law governing the Structural funds adopted by the Greek Parliament, an excellent development strategy detailed in good quality operational programmes, and 26 new management structures set up and operational in line with the EU regulations. This has taken a little time, but the result is well worth the effort".
Below are a few details:
The operation programme for the promotion of information society in Greece has as aim to adapt teaching to the new needs of the economy, provide content to education and culture, improve the quality of public services provided to citizens, in particular in the fields of health and well being, support electronic commerce, facilitate the creation of enterprises, strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs, improve the qualifications of human resources, promote employment in the new economy, allow access to the Internet at a reasonable price and provide public access to digital services.
The programme for the improvement of the competitiveness of the Greek economy has as main aim the creation of new enterprises, sustainable enhancement, centred on quality, the competitiveness of companies, which will thus be better prepared to find their place in the emerging global market, the integration of companies into the new economy, the improvement of services provided to SMEs.