Commission approves information society funding for Spanish regions
The European Commission has approved information society funding under the structural funds programme which will see 969.3 million euro invested in helping Spain's less favoured regions catch up with other areas in the EU. The funding will go to 10 Spanish regions classed as 'objective one' regions because their development is perceived as lagging behind. The European Commission will provide 446.6 million euro, with Spain supplying 522.7 million euro. 'This programme will enable the least favoured regions of Spain to catch up in the new information and communication technologies. It reflects the commitment of the Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit in March 2000 to a competitive European Union founded on the knowledge society. Its orientations are those of the eEurope Community initiative and the 'Information society for all' action plan launched by the Spanish Government,' said Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Regional Policy. The programme will be structured around five priorities: - Access to the information society: Expanding access to new digital services; Internet link-ups for schools; - Promoting the new economy: Introducing the information society and e-commerce to enterprises; supporting technological development; - Bringing the information society into public administration: Developing applications for administration and service provision; long distance teaching; expansion of the Internet sites for the National university for long distance teaching (UNED); - Developing the information society's industries and technologies: Sectoral innovation support measures; general support action for information industries; - Promoting the development of digital content and tools: Developing new systems, contents and tools; promoting creation of own content in Spanish and boosting development of language technologies.
Countries
Spain