Regional development Fund ERDF: guidelines for actions for 2000-2006

The committee adopted the report by Helmut Markov (EUL/NGL, D). Although the Commission proposals were welcomed in general, the approach chosen of opting for programme-based rather than project-based financing, to be implemented by the national and regional authorities, was regretted. Relinquishing this last possibility existing within the structural funds to create direct links between project operators at local and regional level and the EU represented a loss of European added value, visibility and closeness to the citizen. The disapperance of transnational partnerships would mean an excessive reduction in the European exchange of innovations. The committee therefore called for continued support for local and regional partnerships under the programme. Finally it was stressed that, given the importance of the innovative measures for regional development, the budget of EUR 400 million for seven years represented an absolute minimum.�