91998E0754

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0754/98 by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (18 March 1998)

Subject: REGIS Initiative cuts for the outermost regions under Agenda 2000

The Commission's Agenda 2000 plans to maintain the outermost regions as Objective 1 regions, despite the fact that their GDP is higher than 75% of the Community average.

However, when the Commission's same Agenda 2000 speaks of reducing the number of Community initiatives it excludes the REGIS Initiative for outermost regions from the new objectives, though they were included in earlier planning periods. As the Commission knows, the REGIS Initiative is the second largest investment programme in the Canary Islands, after the Canaries Operational Programme (ERDF), and provides substantial funds for local development or promoting renewable energies, to mention but two examples.

On the other hand, the special treatment set out in the Treaty of Amsterdam for the outermost regions, which mentions special measures for the conditions of access to the Structural Funds and Community-wide programmes, suggests a need for a special Community initiative for these regions such as the REGIS Initiative has been up to now.

Does the Commission consider there is a need to include a Community initiative for the outermost regions in the next planning period, as was the case in the REGIS I and REGIS II programmes?

In what way has the Commission made provision to offset a possible disappearance of the REGIS Initiative, bearing in mind the importance of its financial contribution to the Canary Islands' economy and people?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (21 April 1998)

The Commission plans to pay close attention to the most remote areas. Its proposal of 18 March 1998 for new Structural Funds Regulations ((COM(98) 131. )) specifically includes making these regions eligible under Objective 1, even if their per capita gross domestic product (GDP) is higher than 75% of the Community average.

The Commission plans to integrate the measures hitherto carried out under Regis I and II into the Objective 1 programmes in order to promote thematic concentration, simplify management and administration and increase their effectiveness.

With regard to the intensity of Community aid, like the other regions eligible under Objective 1, the most remote areas should benefit from the effort to concentrate budgetary resources on this Objective.