Brussels, 27/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Vorarlberg, Austria on Monday 26 January, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner set out for the European affairs committee of the Vorarlberg Parliament the measures proposed by the European Commission to meet the economic and financial crisis. These measures include extra advance payments from the cohesion budget to encourage investment - Austria as a whole will receive an extra €30 million in 2009 - and further simplification of the rules for accessing regional development grants. During her visit, Hübner met Landeshauptmann (regional governor) Dr Herbert Sausgruber, and Lantagspräsident (President of the regional Parliament) Gebhard Halder. She also visited the research institute of the University of Vorarlberg in Dornbirn, and projects coordinated by it in the technological and chemical sectors. To finish her visit, the commissioner travelled to neighbouring Liechtenstein for talks on cross-border cooperation with Prince Aloïs.
On 4 May 2007, the Commission approved the 2007-2013 regional development programme for the Austrian Land of Vorarlberg. the Commissioner said the programme, “Vorarlberg Regional Competitiveness (2007-2013)” contains Community support for the Land to meet the regional competitiveness and employment target (the regions where EU aid is being phased out not being included, says the Commission in a press release). The programme will create 450 new jobs, 50 of which will be in the R&D sector. It will trigger a total investment of €110 million (six times the level of EU assistance), will increase renewable energy capacity by 2MW and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 400 tonnes/year. Given the natural disasters that have hit the region over recent years, protection against natural risks such as avalanches and flooding is a priority for the programme.
In 2007-2013, Vorarlberg will receive support worth €17.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), €472 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) and €3.9 billion from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). (G.B./transl.rt)