§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the eligibility for Objective 2 and Objective 3 funding for Wales following the Berlin European Summit. [80235]
§ Mr. HainThe agreements reached by Member States at the Berlin Summit provided an important step towards agreeing the whole Agenda 2000 package, including the new Structural Funds regulations. They represent a considerable success for the UK Government and its European partners after many months of hard negotiating. The agreements leave it open for the European Parliament to consider the whole package before the end of May.
Although the regulations are still in draft form the Government are eager to make progress in the designation of Objective 2 areas and is currently consulting across the UK on criteria to be adopted for their identification. Eligibility under the Community criteria can be for any type of area, industrial or service based, rural, urban or fisheries. The Regulations specify that 50 per cent. of the Objective 2 population should cover industrial or rural areas where these meet the relevant Community criteria.
All parts of the UK not receiving Objective 1 status will be eligible for Objective 3 funding.