Brussels, 23/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - As indicated last week (EUROPE of 17 March, p.9), the European Commission approved, on 16 March, three programmes for Greece, over the 2000-2006 period, which will be partially financed by the EU structural funds. These programme respectively concern: road and port infrastructures and urban development, the development of the Central Macedonian region, and culture.
The road axes, ports, urban development programme covers practically the whole of Greece. Its aims are: the completion of the Greek section of the transeuropean road network, the improvement of facilities in the main ports, maritime safety and transport condition in the large cities such as Athens or Thessalonica. The contribution from the EU totals EUR 3.033 billion; that from the Greek authorities 2.85 billion, and the private sector should take part to the value of EUR 3.4 billion through partnerships with the public sector. The total cost of the programme is estimated at EUR 9.3 billion.
The operational programme for the region of Central Macedonia is part of the framework of interventions under Objective 1 (regions lagging behind in development). It represents a financial volume of EUR 1,390 million, of which 903.4 will be financed by the EU structural funds and the remainder by the public and private sector (to the respective amount of EUR 301.1 million and EUR 186 million). This programme aims to promote the long-term development of the region through the enhancing of its competitiveness and through the reduction of the intra-regional disparities, thanks to the creation of permanent jobs, the development of existing infrastructures and environmental protection.
Finally, the "Culture" operational programme represents a budget of close to EUR 605 million, of which 414 will be financed by the structural funds (the remainder by the public and private sectors). It aims to promote the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage of the country as well as the harmonious development of supply and demand for cultural goods at the regional level. Additional actions in the cultural sector will be cofinanced by the Community programmes "Information society" and "Human resources".