Brussels, 29/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Some 24.2% of the Objective 1 aid for the EU's most disadvantaged regions in 2001 to 2006 will be of benefit to other Member States, notes a report on the economic impact of Objective 1 aid published by the European Commission. 42.6% of Objective 1 aid for Greece in 2000-2006 will be of benefit to other Member States, as will 35.2% of the aid for Portugal, 26.7% for Italy (including 17.4% of aid for the Mezzogiorno), 18.9% for east Germany and 14.7% for Spain. This is on top of the 9% directly granted to third countries. The report notes that the impact of EU aid on GDP growth in 2000-2006 will be 3.5% for Portugal, 2.4% for Greece, 1.7% for the Mezzogiorno, 1.6% for east Germany and 1.1% for Spain. On Monday, the European Commission published a press release on the report presented by Regional Policy Commissioner Michel Barnier coinciding with the seminar on cohesion policy that took place on 18 June (see Europe of 19 June).