92000E0575

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0575/00

by Carlos Ripoll y Martínez de Bedoya (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Structural Funds

On the basis of the Commission's estimates and in accordance with the relevant criteria, how much are the Balearic Islands due to receive form the Structural Funds in the 2000-2006 period, and what will the breakdown of the amount be?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2000)

On 22 December 1999 the Commission took a decision of principle on the list of the areas of Spain eligible under Objective 2 during the 2000-2006 programming period. Following consultation of the three committees at the end of January, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1), the Commission will shortly take a final decision on this list. The Balearic Islands will appear in part on this list and will therefore benefit from Objective 2 appropriations.

On 1 July 1999 the Commission adopted the indicative distribution among the Member States concerned of the commitment appropriations for Objective 2 for the 2000-2006 programming period. The appropriations allocated to Spain comprised EUR 2 553 million for the eligible areas and EUR 98 million for the Objective 2 areas receiving transitional support. Immediately it has taken a final decision on the list of areas eligible under Objective 2, the Commission will send the Spanish authorities a proposal for the distribution among the regions concerned of the appropriations available under this Objective using the method it employed to distribute the Objective 2 appropriations among the Member States.

However, it should be stressed that this proposal is indicative in nature. Final distribution will be decided by mutual agreement between the Member State and the Commission, when the various single programming documents concerned are adopted. It is therefore impossible at this stage to assess the amount which the Balearic Islands will receive under Objective 2.

This is also true of the other structural assistance which the Balearic Islands could receive, Objective 3, the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance and the Interreg, Urban, Equal and Leader Community Initiatives.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.