92000E0157

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0157/00

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Modernisation and business incentive plan for Andalusia

On the scale of per capita wealth covering the autonomous communities of Spain, which is calculated as a percentage of Spain's average per capita GDP, the region of Andalusia scores a disappointing 72,26 %, compared with 154,48 % for the Balearic Islands, the region which tops the rankings.

For Andalusia to close the gap that currently separates it from both the rest of Spain and the remainder of the Community regions amongst which it sadly finds itself towards the bottom of the rankings 80 000 businesses would have to be set up there over the next four years as a means of bringing full employment to the autonomous community.

Can the Commission say whether it takes the view that, over and above existing Community policies which foster economic development in Andalusia, it ought to help launch a modernisation and business incentive plan for the region to boost the creation of enterprises in deprived areas and provide small businesses with access to more attractive sources of funding enabling them to expand and prosper?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2000)

In its draft guidance for programmes(1) adopted on 1 July 1999, the Commission underlined amongst other things the importance that it attaches to support measures for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), both setting them up and developing them, by focusing on the information society, networking and the aid services which will be open to SMEs.

The Commission received Spain's regional development plan for the regions eligible under Objective 1 in the 2000-06 programming period on 29 October 1999. We are currently analysing this proposal in order to finalise, in partnership with the Spanish authorities, the Community support framework which will lay down the conditions for implementing the programming. The Commission will try to ensure that the priorities identified by the Spanish authorities are taken into account in an appropriate manner in the ensuing measures and forms of assistance.

(1) Commission staff working paper SEC(1999) 103 final: The Structural Funds and their coordination with the Cohesion Fund Draft guidance for programmes in the period 2000-2006.