Guide to the Cohesion Fund 2000-2006

Summary:

This document is intended to guide the Member States and all project promoters in their work during the period 2000-06. Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 of 26 May 1994 establishing a Cohesion Fund was amended by the following Council Regulations:
- (EC) No 1264/99 of 21 June 1999;
- (EC) No 1265/99 of 21 June 1999 amending Annex II.

These two Regulations will come into force on 1 January 2000, but arrangements for implementing projects under the Cohesion Fund as amended should be laid down now. Although the basic principles of Regulation (EC) No 1164/94 were not altered, some provisions were adjusted to take account of the experience gained from management during the period 1993-99, the new macro-economic situation (introduction of the euro and increased convergence), the desire to improve management and control systems and the need to simplify financial management, rationalise the presentation of projects and adopt a more strategic approach to them than in the past.

In 2000-06 the Cohesion Fund will, in general terms, continue to operate in accordance with the basic model but it should also develop in the main fields listed below. It is therefore important for all the parties, the Commission and the Member States, to work towards the future on the basis of accepted guidelines.