asked the Minister for Finance if the implementation of a regional policy in the EEC depends on the prior establishment of an economic and monetary policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Regional Policy.
97.
Mr. Kenny
The European Community's commitment to create a regional policy by the end of this year and in particular to bring into operation by then the principal instrument of that policy, the Regional Development Fund, is not dependent on the realisation of a particular stage of economic and monetary union. The evolution of Community regional policy, although related to economic and monetary union, should be looked at as separate and distinct from progress towards that union. Indeed, the realisation of an effective and stable union by 1980 presupposes in large measure the elimination during the intervening years of the major regional imbalances that exist today within the enlarged Community. Thus, following their Summit Conference in Paris last October the Governments of the Nine recorded their agreement "that a high priority should be given to the aim of correcting in the Community the structural and regional imbalances which might affect the realisation of economic and monetary union."