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Written question asked by Lord Vinson (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Thursday, 2 February 2006.

EU: Regional Development

Question
In view of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s suggestion that regional spending should be returned to the control of European Union member states to avoid waste and mismanagement, whether the structural funds will be returned to the United Kingdom under the subsidiarity arrangements.
Answer

As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister explained in his Statement to Parliament of 19 December, the European Council of 15–16 December 2005 succeeded in achieving agreement on the next EC budget for the 2007–13 financial perspective. As part of the package, the member states reached agreement on future structural and cohesion funds spending.The Government have argued consistently that, following enlargement, it is right that the structural funds should be focused to a greater extent on the poorest EU member states. The agreement will enable the EU to address priorities in the new member states while still maintaining some funding for richer member states, in particular their poorer regions. The older EU member states (the EU15) will face reductions in spending compared with current levels, reflecting their comparative prosperity and the need to support the economic convergence of the new member states.The degree to which member states can determine how structural funding is used in their regions will be determined by the separate structural fund regulations, which are still being negotiated. Each member state’s national strategic reference frameworks (NSRF) will set out the broad objectives for future programmes within each member state. Within their strategic frameworks, member states will have considerable flexibility in directing structural fund spending in accordance with agreed EU aims for regional development. The Government are planning to consult on the UK’s draft NSRF over the coming months.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
3468; 678 c66-7WA
Session
2005-06
Related items
European Council
Monday, 19 December 2005
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects
EU grants and loans Subsidiarity Regional assistance EU regional policy
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk