Brussels, 28/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the European Commission approved 58 innovative action programmes in 12 Member States, which will benefit from community overall contributions (Erdf) of some € 150 million (mio) for 2002-2003 and generally focus on innovative regional and local development in new technology sectors, information society, regional identity and sustainable development. The Community contribution, which has to attract additional investments from the public and private sectors, will be distributed as follows: Austria: €8.7 mio for Niederosterreich, Vienna and Vorarlberg; - Finland: € 5 mio for Etela-Suomi and Pohjois Suomi; - France: €12.5 mio for Aquitaine, Lorraine, Pays de la Loire, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azure and Reunion; - Germany: €20 mio for Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Nordheim-Westfalen, Rheniliand-Pflaz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Ahalt, Shleswig-Holstein; - Greece: €5.5 mio for Kentriki Macedonia and Thallasia: - Ireland: €2.6 mio for the Southern and Eastern regions; - Italy: €20 mio for Calabria, Emilia Romagne, Friulio-Venezia Giulia, Bolzano, Trente and Tuscany; - the Netherlands: €5.5 mio for Noord Braband and Noord Holland; - Portugal: €11.5 mio for the Algarve, Centro, Lisboa, Maderia and Norte; - Spain: €35 mio for Andalucia, Arragon, Baleares, Cantabria, Canarias, Castilla-la-Mancha, Pais Vasco; - Sweden: €11.8 mio for Mallersta Norrland, Ostra Mellansverige, Ovre Norrdland and Sydsverige; - United Kingdom: €11 mio for East Midlands, Eastern, North East England, Wales and Yorkshire, Humberside (Additional information: http: //http://www.inforegio.cec.eu.int/innovating/prog2001_en.htm ).