Brussels, 19/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission approved the regional development plan for Vienna, the Austrian capital, for the period 2000-2006. The programme, which aims to revitalise urban areas in difficulty, will benefit from EU financial aid of EUR 18.075 million granted by the ERDF (up to 74%) and the ESF (26%). The Community financial contribution will be completed by public and private investment of EUR 29.460 million, bringing the overall budget for the programme to EUR 47.535 million. The Commission expects implementation of the programme will create 100 new jobs and safeguard 300 existing jobs in the medium term.
Adopted under Objective 2 of Structural Funds, the programme focuses on revitalisation of the areas in difficulty located in the Brigittenau and Leopolstadt areas. It is based on four priority themes: - development of local urban structure, mainly by improving social and technical infrastructures; - improving business competitiveness, mainly SMEs, with a view to job creation; - management of human resources, mainly the development of professional qualifications for the unemployed and employed, and support for companies in the social economy sector, as well as integration on the labour market of disadvantaged and immigrant social groups. Two "horizontal" fields will be taken into consideration in implementation of the programme, mainly at the level of project selection: the promotion of gender equality and equal opportunities, and the promotion of sustainable development.