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Said Michel Barnier: 7KLVSURJUDPPHKDVEHHQGHYHORSHGWKDQNVWRWKHH[FHOOHQW SDUWQHUVKLS EHWZHHQ WKH :DOORRQ UHJLRQDO DXWKRULWLHV DQG WKH &RPPLVVLRQ ,Q DSSURYLQJ WKLV HFRQRPLF GHYHORSPHQW SURJUDPPH WKH &RPPLVVLRQ LV GHPRQVWUDWLQJ LWV FRPPLWPHQW WR VXSSRUWLQJ WKH IDFWRUV RI FRPSHWLWLYHQHVV LQ D UXUDO UHJLRQDO HFRQRP\ ZLWKRXW FRPSURPLVLQJ WKH SULQFLSOH RI HQYLURQPHQWDO SURWHFWLRQ The strategy adopted will be based on three priorities: - 'LYHUVLILFDWLRQ RI WKH HFRQRPLF EDVH, through direct action in favour of economic stakeholders proposing investment projects in physical capital, so as to develop the productive base both in industry and in market services, especially through services related to management, new information and communication technologies (NICT), electronic commerce and economic  networking (Community contribution: ¼ 20 165 247 from the ERDF ). - 5HVWUXFWXULQJ WKH FRXQWU\VLGH by encouraging tourism and the maintenance of business and services, and by enhancing cohesion and attractiveness through better-quality structures for acquiring knowledge (Community contribution: ¼ 32 213 764 from the ERDF). - to meet specific human resources (QKDQFLQJ³HPSOR\DELOLW\´DQGNQRZKRZ  needs (Community contribution: ¼ 5 206 000 from the ESF ).

 Objective 2 covers regions undergoing socio-economic change, declining rural areas, less-favoured areas dependent on fisheries and problem neighbourhoods.  European Regional Development Fund  European Social Fund The Community is also contributing ¼ 793 734 in technical assistance measures (contribution: ¼ 619 734 from the ERDF and ¼ 174 000 from the ESF). The SPD covers the districts of Dinant and Philippeville (Namur province) and the districts of Bastogne, Marche-en-Famenne and Neufchâteau (Luxembourg province), which were part of the area eligible for Objective 5(b) transitional support in 1994-99 along with the municipality of Aubange under Objective 2 transitional support in 1994-99. The financial contribution to this SPD will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the responsibility of Michel Barnier (about ¼ 53 million) and the European Social Fund (ESF) under the responsibility of Anna Diamantopoulou (about ¼ 5 million). Before a final decision can be reached on the programming document for Namur and Luxembourg provinces, the Consultative Committee for the Development and Conversion of Regions and the ESF committee must be consulted. Mr Barnier will sign the decision within the next few weeks.

)XUWKHULQIRUPDWLRQ Visit this European Commission website: http://www.inforegio.cec.eu.int

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