Brussels, 18/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission approved nine regeneration programmes for urban areas in Germany under the Community initiative URBAN II. Total EU aid of over EUR 114 million (FEDER) will be released to finance the programmes in 2001-2006, to which will be added German public and private sector investment. The adopted programmes generally focus on the following priorities: improving environmental and transport infrastructure; supporting the local economy and job creation; promoting equal opportunities; preventing social exclusions; education and activities for young people. The areas covered are: Dessau (Saxony-Anhalt), EU contribution of EUR 14.9 million plus additional public sector (PS) investment of +/- 5 EUR mil; Kassel, EUR 9.9 mil from EU and EUR 31.4 mil from PS and EUR 0.8 mil from private sector; Mannheim/Ludwigshafen, EUR 9.9 mil from EU and 11.5 mil from PS; Neubrandenburg Nordt Stadt, EUR 14.8 mil from EU and 5 mil from PS; Dudweiler/Saarbrücken, EUR 9.9 mil from EU and 12.6 mil from PS; Kiel "Ostufer Stadtgebiet", EUR 9.9 mil from EU and 8.4 mil from PS and 1.6 mil from private sector; Lichtenberg and Friedrichshain (Berlin), EUR 14.9 mil from EU and 4.7 mil from PS and 0.2 mil from private sector; Gera, EUR 14.9 mil from EU and 5 mil from PS; and Leipzig, 14.9 mil from EU and 5 mil from PS.