(2004/C 84 E/0650)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0327/04

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 February 2004)

Subject:   County Clare and Objective I of the Structural Fund

I understand from the Commission's previous correspondence that County Clare will remain eligible for Objective 1 in transition until 2006.

However, County Clare will become part of the new North-West constituency (formerly known as Connacht Ulster)in 2004. At that time, can the Commission confirm that the existing Connacht Ulster counties will maintain their Objective 1 status, but County Clare will not share this status?

Does the Commission not anticipate difficulty in this situation whereby it will be the only county in the North-West constituency not enjoying Objective 1 status, even though this county shares the same difficulties and needs as the counties of Connacht Ulster?

Can the Commission confirm whether County Clare will continue to have a different status from the other counties of North-West after 2006?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 March 2004)

The process for determining eligibility for Objective 1 support for the 2000-2006 period is set out in Article 3, paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1). The rules mean that, once estabilished, the list of eligible regions remains in force for the entire programming period, 2000-2006.

As the Commission indicated in response to Written Question E-3699/03 (2), the eligibility of County Clare for Objective 1 in transition will not be affected by its inclusion in the North-West constituency for the purpose of elections to the Parliament. The Commission can therefore confirm that the eight counties of Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon and Sligo remain eligible for Objective 1 until 31 December 2006 while Clare will remain eligible for Objective 1 in transition.

It is not expected that the inclusion of Clare in the North-West constituency will have any impact on the implementation of programmes in the regions eligible for Objective 1 and Objective 1 in transition respectively.

It is too early to speculate on matters of eligibility for support under the Structural Funds. In the third report on economic and social cohesion (adopted by the Commission on 18 February 2004), the Commission proposes to maintain the current Objective 1 eligibility criteria for the new ‘Convergence and competitiveness’ priority.

(1)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2)  OJ C 78 E, 27.3.2004.