§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes26W to make to cover the anticipated time lag between the ending of the existing European structural funding on 31 December and the beginning of the transitional payments under the reformed system; and if he will make a statement. [100343]
§ Mr. CabornProjects approved within current Structural funds programmes by the end of this year can be co-financed until the end of 2001.
For projects approved within programmes that cover the new period 2000–2006, the Regulations provide for these to be co-financed from 1 January 2000, provided that the draft programmes have been lodged with the Commission by 31 April 2000.
These arrangements will ensure continuity of funding between the programming periods.