Structural Fund. 5th annual 1993 Report

Adopting the report by Mrs Manuela FRUTOS GAMA (PSE, E) on the Commission's fifth annual report on the implementation of the reform of the Structural Funds in 1993, the Committee on Regional Policy restated its firm belief that planning quality was a key to the effectiveness of structural policies. However, it emphasized that this quality depended on the extent to which local and regional political, social and economic operators were involved in the planning. The committee considered the budget implementation for the 1988-1993 period to be satisfactory but was concerned at the imbalances noted in certain areas and the delay in Objective 2. It echoed the Court of Auditors' concerns about the reduced planning period for this objective and saw a need to strengthen in situ monitoring and hoped that the new possibilities which would enable the EIB to finance programmes would have a positive effect on the coordination of appropriations and subsidies. It also called for total consistency between the structural policy objectives and the principles of sustainable development. The Committee on Regional Policy called on the Commission, when assessing the progress achieved with structural measures, to use new indices which measured not only economic growth but also the degree of environmental quality and the stability of long-term jobs.�