91997E4097

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4097/97 by David Morris (PSE) to the Commission (16 January 1998)

Subject: Human resource development and funding

The Commission proposes four strands of human resource development under Objective 3. Will these be duplicated under Objectives 1 and 2? Further, will the proposed ESF regulation specify the financial allocation between these strands and if so, what will that allocation be?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (2 February 1998)

The Commission is currently preparing its proposals for the regulations governing the structural funds for 2000-2006 and plans to adopt its proposals before Easter 1998. The basis for these proposals is given in Agenda 2000 ((COM(97) 2000 final. )).

It is proposed that the new objective 3, which addresses the four areas mentioned in Agenda 2000, should have two main functions:

- to provide the common framework for all European social fund (ESF) interventions (i.e. in objectives 1, 2 and 3), providing consistency of approach across European and national human resources development strategies on the one hand and regional interventions on the other;

- to operate as a self-contained objective, financing human resources development measures outside the objective 1 and 2 regions, thus ensuring a coherent Community-wide human resources development strategy.

The details regarding the implementation of objective 3, including the question of programming and financial priorities, remain under consideration and the Commission's proposals will be given in the draft regulations presented in 1998.