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SEMINAR 1998 |
THE ARKLETON TRUST
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[CONTENTS] [NEXT PAGE] |
4.2. The pre-accession supportAgenda 2000 proposed three priorities for the EU pre-accession support to the applicant countries. The PHARE expenditure (1.0 bECU) will be used mainly for capacity building. This scheme also includes pilot rural development projects with stronger participation of national experts. The ERDF support (by the Cohesion Fund principles) for infrastructural investments will amount to 1.5 bECU. Prompter progress in improvement of agricultural structures will be supported with 0.5 bECU by EAGGF. The range of measures builds mostly on those used in the existing EU-15 policy framework. However, priority will be given to structural development actions (such as promotion of marketing, producer groups and technical assistance), whereas implementation of LFA support is not anticipated within the pre-accession measures. The present regulations (DG XVI) also do not anticipate any launching of the LEADER-type pilot rural development projects in the applicant countries.The partnership agreement with the applicant countries will be renegotiated every year. The Structural Funds assistance can contribute up to 75% of project value, as for the Objective 1 areas. The EAGGF assistance will provide 10% of the assistance in advance, followed by monthly payments, in order to ease financing problems. As soon as an applicant country becomes a full member of EU, it will no longer qualify for the pre-accession assistance. The remaining funds will be redistributed to the remaining candidates. The CEE applicant countries are recommended to start immediately with the preparation work. Restitution of the nationalised land to private ownership and improvement of competitiveness of the food industry are identified by the Commission as the tasks of primary importance.
[The Funds] |