Cohesion Fund. Annual report, 1998

The European Parliament adopted the resolution drafted by Carlos RIPOLL Y MARTINEZ DE BEDOYA (EPP/ED, Spain) on the Commission's Annual Report on the Cohesion Fund. Parliament welcomed the results achieved so far in the fields of transport and environment, but repeated its request that greater attention should be paid to sustainable modes of transport including multimodal transport connections and combined transport. Priority should be given during 2000-2006 to investment for facilitating the integration of outlying regions into the trans-European rail network. Parliament considers that substantial investment is required to deal with treating waste and refuse, and incentives for using the most environmentally-friendly and efficient technology should be provided. Parliament called for consistency between structural policies and the Cohesion Fund through the incorporation of the actions financed by means of the Cohesion Fund into Structural Fund regional planning. In general, Parliament declared itself satisfied with the report and the contribution made by the Cohesion Funds. The Commission is congratulated on the efficient use of the special budget line, initiated by Parliament, for information and publicity measures to encourage environmental practice in pursuit of a policy geared to sustainable development.�