IP/08/285
Brussels, 22 February 2008
Hübner in Thessaloniki to launch Cohesion Policy awareness campaign Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, will today take part in a ceremony to mark the launch of Greece's programming for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013. The launch in Thessaloniki, organised at the initiative of the Greek ministry of Economy and Finances, is the first of a series of events in Greek regional capitals to raise awareness about the opportunities that EU investment will bring. Commissioner Hübner will join Mr George Alogoskoufis, Minister of Economy and Finance, representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Transport, Employment and Education, and the General Secretaries of 13 Greek regions for today's event.
'I am impressed by the energy I see in this drive to get programming off to a dynamic start all over Greece. I see you are mobilising very effectively, and hope that you will use Community investment effectively. I wish all of your regions every success for the new programming period,' the Commissioner said ahead of the mission. She stressed the need for transparent, accountable programme management throughout the seven-year cycle.
The Commissioner will also take part in a meeting with representatives at Ministerial or Deputy level from Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), as well as senior representatives from Cyprus, Albania and Italy, to maximise the potential of territorial cooperation programmes. She will urge all participants to maximise their use of these opportunities, making the most of the local, regional and increasingly international dimensions of these programmes.
Update on Greece's application for European Solidarity Fund assistance
Commissioner Hübner saw the aftermath of the devastating forest fires in Greece for herself last summer. Now the Commission is processing Greece's application for assistance from the European Solidarity Fund, on which a decision is likely in early March. The Commission is also examining other ways in which to assist Greece with its reconstruction. Regarding the programming period 2000-2006, the eligibility deadline, originally set for 2008, is being extended for a year for the regional programmes for Western Greece, Peloponnesus, Attica and Continental Greece and for the thematic programmes entitled “Road axes, ports, urban development” and “railways, airports, urban transport”.
Notes for Editors
Programming period 2007-2013: On 26 November 2007, Commissioner Hübner and Mr George Alogoskoufis, Minister of Economy and Finance, signed 10 operational programmes following the Commission’s approval of the priorities Greece had chosen.
For 2007-2013, 10 programmes will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, and three by the European Social Fund (ESF). Together, they will lead to Community investment worth € 20.3 billion in all Greek regions.
Programmes concentrate on key areas for growth and job creation: innovation, support to small enterprises and businesses, information technologies, trans-European networks and the environment.
Low-carbon public transport: The construction of the metro in Thessaloniki and its extension is one of the most emblematic projects of the new programming period. When completed, it will be one of Europe’s most modern metro systems. It will help alleviate serious traffic congestion and contribute to action against climate change. The metro in Athens, also built with EU funding, will be extended during this new programming period.
Territorial cooperation programmes: Greece now has land borders with other member states, thanks to the recent accession of Bulgaria and Romania. It is now involved in 15 territorial cooperation programmes. The South East Europe region includes many cross-border cooperation programmes, e.g. Greece with Cyprus, Bulgaria and Italy. There are two transnational cooperation programmes covering the Mediterranean area and South East Europe, and various Instrument for pre-accession assistance and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument programmes with Albania, FYROM, and other neighbours. There are also EU-wide cooperation programmes, in which all of these countries are active. For further information on the new programmes, see: IP/07/1764 MEMO/07/498; MEMO/07/499; MEMO/07/500; MEMO/07/501; MEMO/07/502; MEMO/07/503; MEMO/07/504; MEMO/07/505; MEMO/07/506; MEMO/07/507
And the following website:
http://www.hellaskps.gr//2007-2013.htm
