Brussels, 11/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission approved the development programme for the Hessen region for the period 2000-2006. The programme concerns areas in economic and social reconversion, eligible to "Objective 2" of the Structural Funds. Community financial aid amounts to EUR 184 million. It will attract public investment (123 million) as well as private investment (235 million), which brings the overall financial allocation to EUR 542 million.
In the Hessen areas under Objective 2, the rate of unemployment (15.3%) is higher than the average unemployment rate for Hessen (10.8%). The strategy of the programme is geared to the creation of competitive employment, and will be achieved by attaining targets related above all to business promotion, enlarging the innovative capacities of SMEs and reinforcing enterprise orientated infrastructure. Compared to the previous programmes, emphasis has been placed on support to enterprise rather than on infrastructure. The main priorities are: - development of specific infrastructure related to local business needs; - promoting innovation; - promoting businesses in order to speed up job creation; - supporting tourist capacity of the region developing new regional tourist models; and investments for the economic development of inner-city areas with particularly high levels of unemployment. The promotion of equal opportunities, sustainable development and the promotion of the information society are among the themes that will be taken into consideration in the pursuit of the programme's strategy.