Development issues and structural intervention problems concerning Objectives 1, 2 and 5b in Spain. Report

The committee adopted a report by Mrs SIERRA GONZALEZ on structural measures in Spain. The report deals with the role of and initial results from the Community Support Frameworks (Objectives 1 and 2) for the period from 1994 to 1995. The report starts by noting that the major disparities between the regions of Spain have not diminished substantially at the end of the first programming period (1988-1993) despite the fact that the national average per capita GDP has moved noticeably closer to the Community average. The parliamentary committee welcomed the emphasis placed by the Community Support Framework for Objective 1 upon improving and adapting the production system and human resources and improving the quality of life at the expense of infrastructure. However, it criticized the fact that most of the investment in transport networks has been in road rather than rail infrastructures and that more favourable financing terms have been offered for road construction than for the improvement of rail infrastructures. According to the report adopted, the allocation of substantial resources for transport networks in the programming for Objective 2 (40% of all ERDF measures in 1994 and 1995 and 25% in 1996) should not be at the expense of the economic redevelopment priorities set for Objective 2 areas.