ECU 297.16 million for industrial restructuring in The Netherlands
The European Commission has provisionally approved the allocation of ECU 297.16 million in aid, from the European Union's Structural Funds, for the restructuring of industrial regions in the Netherlands. This aid will be awarded in the context of programmes launched under Objective 2 (economic reconversion of industrial regions in decline) of the Structural Funds. The Community aid will be used, among other things, to create some 15,700 jobs in the following regions: part of the provinces of Groningen and Drenthe, South-East Brabant and the Arnhem-Nijmegen area in the Rhine basin on the German border. An additional ECU 456 million will come from national authorities and ECU 180 million from private investors. All three programmes foresee the following priorities: - A substantial increase in the budget for technology development and technology transfer to SMEs; - Concentration of investments in urban economies, which are regarded as engines for regional development; - Improving the tourism and urban environment, concentrating on the living environment and local/community economic and employment initiatives; - Expanding the knowledge and international orientation of the industrial sector. The practical implementation of the programmes will be targeted at the specific needs and wishes of the regions concerned. The programmes still require formal approval which is expected to take place in April 1997.
Países
Netherlands