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STRUCTURAL
FUNDS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
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By
means of the Structural Funds, the European Union aims to fulfil
the basic objective of economic and social cohesion, and in
particular:
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To
contribute to sustainable economic development
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To
foment employment and human resources .
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To
promote equality between men and women.
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To
protect and improve the environment
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The
following objectives have been set as priorities for the period
2000-2006:
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Objective
1: To promote the development and structural adjustment
of regions whose development is lagging behind.
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Objective
2: To support the economic and social reconversion of areas
facing structural difficulties.
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Objective
3: To support the adaptation and modernisation of policies
and systems of education, training and employment.
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The
following entities participate in the achievement of the aforementioned
community objectives:
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STRUCTURAL
FUNDS
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ERDF
(European Regional Development Fund)
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ESF
(European Social Fund)
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EAGGF-G (Guidance Section of
the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund)
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FIFG (Financial Instrument for
Fisheries Guidance)
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COHESION
FUND
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GUARANTEE
SECTION OF THE EAGGF (EAGGF-G)
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EUROPEAN
INVESTMENT BANK (EIB)
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OTHER
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT
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The
following elements contribute to the attainment of the main
objectives:



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The
FIFG will contribute to structural actions in the fishing sector
outside Objective 1 regions, in accordance with Regulation (EC)
1263/1999 regarding the financial instrument for the guidance
of fisheries.
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Regulation
(EEC)
1260/1999 regarding general provisions on Structural Funds provides
for the establishment of a transitional regime of support for
regions eligible for subsidies in 1999 by virtue of Objective
1, but which are no longer eligible in 2000. Assistance regulation
also provides for a system of decreasing support for areas entitled
to subsidies under Objectives 2 and 5b in 1999 which are not
Objective 2 in 2000. In Spain the Autonomous region of Cantabria
will benefit from Objective 1 transitional supportd.
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Community
Initiatives are specific instruments of structural community
policies which the Commission proposes to the member states,
at its own initiative, for the purpose of solving specific social
and economic problems present throughout the territory of the
Union and having a special European dimension.
The community initiative programs contain three features which
provide "added value" with respect to the other programs
financed with Structural Funds:
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Support
for actions based on transnational, cross-border and interregional
co-operation.
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Increasing
involvement of partners in an ascending implementation method
("bottom up" effect) which increases the visibility
of community action.
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Reinforcement
of real partnerships amongst all parties involved in the
projects to be implemented
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The
Funds can finance innovative actions and technical assistance
which contribute in some way to the elaboration of methods and
practices aimed at improving the quality of the interventions,
as well as to the methods of programming, monitoring, evaluation
and supervision needed for the correct application of the Structural
Funds Regulation.
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