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Structural Funds introduction

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The EU Structural Funds exist to help areas of Europe which, for one reason or another are suffering difficulties. This could be due to the decline of local industry or falls in income (e.g. because of falling commodity prices reducing farm incomes). The funds are intended to be used to help sponsor projects which will directly address locally identified needs (e.g. to help train people with new skills, or help set-up new businesses). You can find out more details about structural funds at the European Community website on the Regional Policy pages and the Agricultural Policy pages.

Background

At the Berlin European Council on 24 and 25 March 1999, the Heads of State and Government decided to allocate EURO 260 billion to structural measures in the European Union for the period 2000-2006. Of this sum, EURO 213 billion was committed to the 15 existing Member States via the Structural Funds programmes (EURO 195 billion) and the Cohesion Fund (EURO 18 billion).

The Regulations governing these Funds were adopted by the Council of the European Union on 21 June 1999.

Under these Structural Funds there are 3 Objectives:

  • Objective 1: promoting the development and structural adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind;
  • Objective 2: supporting the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties;
  • Objective 3: supporting the adaptation and modernisation of policies and systems of education, training and employment.

There is a special scheme covering restructuring in the fisheries sector outside Objective 1 regions. Rural development projects are implemented throughout the European Union, financed either by the Structural Funds or the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Find out more about Structural Funds in Europe, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Research

Defra recently commissioned research looking into the impact of Structural Funds in England on the Government's environmental objectives and exploring some of the reasons for that impact. The research shows the significant contributions which have been made in England for the environment objectives under Structural Funds in the current period and the good practice in terms of environmental integration from the current programme for the future. Full report [2.16MB]

To find out more about Structural Funds and the environment in England please click http://www.erdf.communities.gov.uk/WhatIsERDF/.

 

Page last modified: 4 October, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs