Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2004
64 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his views on whether, in view of a recent EU conference in Galway, the disparities between richer and poorer EU member states can be bridged. [16837/04]
View answer67 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will expand on his recent comments to the EU conference on territorial cohesion, A New Partnership for Cohesion, organised by his Department, that the disparities between and within richer and poorer EU member states must be eliminated if real territorial cohesion is to be achieved; the extent to which the development of regions here is affected by poor economic and social infrastructure, particularly in islands, mountainous areas, and sparsely populated areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16787/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 67 together.
Given the right policies, the disparities between richer and poorer member states can be bridged. Responsibility for regional policy matters in Ireland is a matter in the first instance for my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy. However, I am replying on the basis that the Deputies have framed their questions in the context of the recent EU Presidency conference on territorial cohesion, which was organised in the Connemara Gaeltacht by my own Department in co-operation with the Directorate General for Regional Policy of the European Commission.
The primary objective of the conference was to advance the debate on the territorial cohesion concept and on strategies for sustainable development in an enlarged European Union in the wake of the publication of the third report on economic cohesion by the European Commission last February. The conference affirmed a number of important issues which will be set out in the conference report and will receive further consideration as this agenda advances. These include the huge potential of islands, mountains and sparsely populated areas of the EU despite their acknowledged territorial constraints; the importance of subsidiarity and the role and responsibility of national governments in this regard; the need for complementarity between the various sectoral policy measures, particularly in regard to rural development and State aids; the desirability of appropriate governance structures to secure and implement policy, including the involvement of partnerships and networks to shape and advance this agenda; the need for policies to address urban and rural connectivities and requirements; and the way in which future programme arrangements will affect existing regions, especially those with Objective One status.
The debate is likely to continue for some time and is not likely to conclude until 2005. Intense and detailed negotiation at Council level will take place before final agreement at the European Council. The European Parliament will also have to approve the final package.
