Brussels, 25/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has given its clearance for three regional aid programmes for Germany for the period 2000-2006, under Objective 2 of Structural Funds. The programmes concern:
- Bavaria (EUR 2.2 billion, including 536 million from the EU): The programme is for the areas of Bavaria that are less developed or affected by unemployment, with priority to the regions along the border with the Czech Republic. Priorities are: 1) infrastructures necessary for the development of industrial or commercial fields; 2) aid to investment, and other measures for increasing company competitiveness; 3) research, information technologies; 4) the tourism infrastructure; and 5) upgrading of urban and rural structures.
- Hesse (EUR 542 million, with 184 million from the EU). Priorities are: 1) the development of specific infrastructure related to local business needs; 2) the promotion of innovation; 3) the promotion of business with a view to speeding up job creation; 4) the development of the region's tourism potential by developing new regional tourist models; and 5) investments for the economic development of inner-city areas with particularly high levels of unemployment.
- Hamburg (EUR 12 million, half of which comes from the EU). Community aid is intended for: 1) activation of commercial real estate and providing commercial sites; 2) tourism, leisure activities, culture and entertainment sectors; 3) business start-ups and small businesses; 4) business-related services; 5) innovative activities; 6) the development of further activities for the protection of the competitiveness of existing businesses and actions for the support of programme implementation on the ground.
These three programmes will be definitively adopted once the consultative committee composed of Member State representatives has given its opinion.