James Leonard
Question:66 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Finance the steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure a better uptake of EU funding for Border counties in view of the EU audit service report. [17216/95]
Written Answers. - Border Counties EU Funding.
The reference relating to the INTERREG programme in the Court of Auditors report related to the perception that only 39 of the 270 projects funded under the programme were of a cross-frontier nature, and that, therefore, the objectives of the programme had not been met.
The content of the report has already been discussed with the European Commission. The Commission agreed with our view that the programme objectives were not restricted to developing cross-Border linkages but also aimed to assist the eligible areas to overcome their special development problems; that there was no evidence of ineligible projects or areas being funded; that the interim evaluation of the programme carried out by independent assessors was positive and had noted that the programme was effective in meeting both of its objectives; that a more difficult set of political, social and economic circumstances pertained during INTERREG I (i.e. prior to the "ceasefires") which may have constrained the cross-Border element of the programme; and that we, following a review of the experience of INTERREG I, had made appropriate adjustments to the follow-up programme. It was further accepted by the Commission that the Court of Auditors had taken a very narrow interpretation of cross-Border projects, counting only those where joint actions on both sides of the Border were concerned and not including development on one side or the other which had made a positive contribution to the economic development of both.
The Regional Affairs Commissioner, Monika Wulf-Mathies, incorporated, on behalf of the Commission, the above points in a speech she made in Armagh on 8 December 1996 on the launching of the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
On that same day, the Commissioner opened the local INTERREG development office in Monaghan, the function of which is to ensure that every possible assistance is given to applications for grant assistance under the programme.