1. 1 – To update figures on economic and social disparities;
2 – To give the latest position in the debate about the political future of cohesion;
3 – To give the result of the accession negotiations with the ten ‘Laeken group’ countries.
January 2003
Objectives of
report

2. Of employment and unemployment figures up to 2001;
Of regional GDP for the year 2000 – which do not yet reflect recent indications of a slowdown in growth;
Of employment and unemployment figures up to 2001;
Of competitiveness factors – indicators of the level of technological advance.
Objectives 1
Updates

3. The development gap between richest and poorest regions is doubled;
Confirms the increase of disparities in a Union enlarged to 25 members;
The development gap between richest and poorest regions is doubled;
The population of the least prosperous regions is concentrated in the new Member States.
Updates 1
Regional
GDP

4. GDP per head by region (PPS), 2000
Index, EU-25 = 100
< 30
>= 125
MT: 1999
Source: Eurostat

5. Between 1996 and 2001, 10 million jobs were created in the EU;
But there are still 15 million below the poverty line;
Employment levels in the candidate countries have not improved;
Regional employment / unemployment disparities will get worse in the enlarged Union.
Updates 2
Employment
and
unemployment

6. Employment rate, 2001 % of population aged 15-64 < 56.5 56.5 - 60.7
< 56.5
>= 69.1

8. Gaps between the regions: greater than between the Member States.
Update of figures on productivity, employment by sector, levels of education;
New figures on R&D, applications for patents & high technology sectors;
Gaps between the regions: greater than between the Member States.
Updates 3
Competitiveness
factors

9. GDP per person employed (EUR), 1999

11. The debate: current position
Objectives 2
The debate within the institutions
The debate at seminars organised by the Commission
The major themes of the debate
The debate:
current
position

12. Priority for regions lagging behind Specific cases
Other regions of the Union
Cross-border co-operation
Debate 1
The major
themes

13. Economic convergence must remain the priority for cohesion policy
The criterion of 75% of Community GDP, level NUTS II
Concentrating solidarity and the Union’s financial investment
An approach based on multi-annual programmes
Major themes
(1)
Lagging
regions

14. EU25: regions below and close to 75% of the average GDP per head
figures, average for EU25
Regions below 75% in EU25
Regions “statistically” above 75%
Regions above 75% in EU15
Others

15. The « phasing-out » system The ultraperipheral regions Islands
Fair arrangements for regions affected by ‘statistical impact ’ (fall in average GDP per head at EU level)
The « phasing-out » system
The ultraperipheral regions
Islands
Regions with low population density
Major themes
(2)
January 2003
Specific
cases

16. and economic restructuring Eligibility of all regions
Questions related to competitiveness, employment, sustainable development
and economic restructuring
Eligibility of all regions
Community value added
More decentralised implementation - The role of regions and towns
Major themes
(3)
Interventions
outside
least prosperous
regions

17. Need for a legal instrument for co-operation
New frontiers for the Union
South & West
Developing networks promoting territorial integration
Increasing financial resources
Major themes
(4)
Cross-border
and
inter-regional
co-operation

18. Meeting of ministers responsible for regional policy – 7 October
Seminar of 3-4 March article 274 of the treaty and decentralisation
Need to reinforce the administrative capabilities of new Member States
Implementation
system
More simple
More diversified
More decentralised

19. Structural Fund assistance destined mainly for ‘Objective 1’
Copenhagen Summit : €21,7 billion to Structural Funds and the Cohesion fund for
Structural Fund assistance destined mainly for ‘Objective 1’
One third of total for Cohesion Fund
Community initiatives limited to INTERREG and EQUAL
Objectives 3
Preparation for
Enlargement
and the period

20. Second Progress report on cohesion
Breakdown of commitment credits between the Cohesion Fund & the Structural Funds for the 10 new Member States
period , € Mio., 1999 prices

21. 3/4 March 2003: Seminar « Managing Structural Funds in the future: which division of responsabilities ?»
16 May 2003: Informal Council called by the Greek Presidency
30 June 2003: Seminar with Regional Presidents
End 2003: third report on economic and social cohesion
Beginning of 2004: Cohesion Forum
End 2005: adoption of legal texts
2006: negotiations with the Member States and with the regions about programmes for
Next steps
Key dates