Structural Fund: innovatory measures in the framework of the ERDF (actions art. 10 ERDF) 1995-1999

The Committee of the Regions noted that the European Commission had already announced calls for tenders in September 1995 in respect of a number of project types under Article 10 of the ERDF, without waiting for the Committee to deliver its Opinion, and without Commission working documents being made available in all official languages of the European Union. The Committee was disappointed to note that the estimated available resources for the period 1995-1999 were significantly below the 1% maximum allowed by the Regulations. The Commission should move towards an integrated approach to the funding available for innovative projects from the ERDF, the ESF and the EAGGF. There was great concern at the proposal by the Commission to fund, in general, fewer but larger projects under Article 10 in the second period, which was a result of the proposal to place a lower limit of ECU 1 million on many categories of projects. This lower limit was set too high and would result in the exclusion of smaller or less prosperous authorities. The Committee called on the Commission to ensure that local and regional authorities were responsible for the management and decision-making process for Article 10 projects. The Commission was also asked to take into account a number of suggestions contained in the Opinion relating to the application process, the balance of funding between types of initiatives and the dissemination of information arising from the projects, all of which were intended to ensure better use of resources for the support of projects for cooperation and development amongst regional and local authorities.