Commission Communication concerning the Structural Funds and their coordination with the Cohesion Fund – Guidelines for programmes in the period 2000 to 2006

Summary:

The main aim of the Union’s structural and cohesion policies is to help reduce economic and social disparities. They support national and regional policies in the weakest regions and on national and regional labour markets. While it is primarily the responsibility of the Member States and regions to define their priorities for development, the part-financing of programmes by the European Union requires that account to be taken also of Community priorities, in order to promote the Community dimension of economic and social cohesion.

Therefore, in accordance with Article 10 (3) of Council Regulation (EC) N° 1260/99 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, the Commission has adopted the following broad, indicative guidelines on relevant and agreed Community policies in relation to the objectives of the Funds. The guidelines seek to help national and regional authorities to prepare their programming strategies for Objectives 1, 2 and 3 of the Structural Funds and their links with the Cohesion Fund. Their aim is to set out the priorities of the Commission based both on past experience in the implementation of programmes and on current Community policies for structural assistance. These priorities should help ensure the best possible use of Community assistance at the national and regional level. The present document formalises the draft guidelines adopted already by the Commission on 3 February 1999.

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