Development problems and Objective 1 structural assistance in Germany. Report

In adopting the report by Mr Gerhard BOTZ (PSE, D) Parliament, noting the considerable increase in unemployment in the new German Länder (16% unemployment as opposed to 9.7% in the old Länder) calls for greater effort to create and preserve jobs in these regions. While acknowledging the efforts made by Germany and the EU in the economic renewal of German Objective 1 regions (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia and Berlin (East)) it considers that the creation of jobs is an essential task for the renewal of these new Länder. It considers that the lack of an adequate capital base for the SMUs is hampering the creation of jobs throughout Germany and advocates use of the Structural Funds which could help to supply risk capital for the SMU. It also calls for better management of Community assistance, in particular closer coordination of the different funds and a simplification of administrative procedures. It points out once again to the Commission and the Council that it regards the support period of three years for Objective 2 regions as too short to resolve the problems of regions suffering from industrial decline and calls for a more rapid definition of evaluation criteria to contribute to an improvement in financing. Lastly, it calls for more active participation by the social partners and the regional authorities in the drawing up and implementation of planning documents. �