Brussels, 17/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - In full debate on the future of cohesion policy, the European Commission published a study on Thursday on the assessment, for the period 1994-1999, of Objective 1 aid intended for regions whose per capital GDP is below 75% of the Community average. Commissioner Michel Barnier considers the results of this study are further proof of the added value of European regional policy. This policy, he added, has contributed to growth, competitiveness and convergence, helping the Union as a whole to benefit from the single market.
The report, developed by the Ecotec firm on behalf of the European Commission, considers that the structural funds have had a positive impact on the GDP of Objective 1 regions and that their relative performance in the EU has improved. Nonetheless, it stresses how difficult it is to make a general assessment of Objective 1, given the diverse nature of the different countries and contexts, as well as the lack of data for monitoring and pre-established goals.
Spending for Objective 1 regions amounted to 210 billion from 1994 to 1999. The study considers that the annual impact on GDP was stronger in Portugal (4.7%) and eastern Germany (4%), than in Ireland (2.8%), Greece (2.2%), northern Ireland (1.8%) and Spain (1.4%). The report makes a different evaluation of long term effects, stressing that these depend on the capacity of structural funds to generate other investment and the success in time of projects.
Among the difficulties, the study stresses the shortcomings of work planning. It stresses the major problems for achieving major projects in time and keeping to the budget. The report stresses that only one third of the 60 projects examined have been completed within the time set, while another third suffer from over one year delays. The environment projects have been delayed the most often. Furthermore, about two thirds of the projects have exceeded their budget, with 20% costing over 30% more than planned. The report also suggests that aid to research and development should be stepped up.
The report may be consulted on the European Commission's website: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/doc/obj1/synthesis_final.pdf