Brussels, 27/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 January, the European Commission must adopt a communication entitled “Investing today for tomorrow's Europe”. The text aims to justify the additional €5 billion from the Community budget that Europe needs to get the economy going again (EUROPE 9810). Three proposals have been made: the first establishes a programme for granting Community financial assistance to projects in the energy sector, and the other two amend the 2005 regulation on rural development programmes.
The Commission is still proposing that €5 billion should be made available from the margin of Heading 2, which is for agricultural spending. Up to €3.5 billion of these funds would be allocated to projects in the field of energy interconnection in 2009 and 2010. The remaining €1.5 billion would be used in 2009 as part of rural development policy, in the following way: - €1 billion for developing broad band internet in rural areas and €500 million for meeting “new challenges” (climate change, renewable energies, water management, biodiversity, innovation and restructuring of the milk and dairy sector). (L.C./transl.jl)