Europese steunprogramma's 2007-2013 Languedoc regio door eurocommissaris Hübner (regionaal beleid) afgetrapt (en)

On 4 December, Danuta Hübner i , the European Commissioner for regional policy, will visit the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France. She will officially launch the region's programme under the 2007-2013 cohesion policy. This will lead to investment mainly in innovation and the environment, which are key issues for this region. Overall investment under the cohesion policy amounts to more than €430 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Total European investment in the region, including the policy for rural development and fisheries, amounts to over €758m for the 2007-2013 period.

The Commissioner stated: "I welcome the fact that the regional players have chosen to invest in research, innovation and technological development to create jobs and make the region more competitive. In the future, regional development will depend to a large extent on innovation, and it is important for Languedoc-Roussillon to make this strategic choice now".

The European Commission adopted the programme for Languedoc-Roussillon on 18 October. The official signing of the programme today in Montpellier marks the beginning of a new programming period. It is planned that the new programme, which focuses on innovation, the knowledge economy, coastal protection, energy efficiency and regional accessibility (transport and information and communication technologies) will lead to the creation of 440 jobs and 140 innovative businesses.

Visits to projects supported by the European Union:

While in the area, Danuta Hübner will visit projects which have received EU funding:

The Lido linking Sète to Marseillan, a 11 km strip of sand separating the Etang de Thau from the sea, is the location of many economic activities (tourism, wine-growing, factories) but it is under threat from erosion. Ms Hübner will officially open the conservation works. It is a model operation on a European scale aimed at combatting coastal erosion through sustainable management. The European Union will provide 20% of the funding for the first tranche of work on the Lido, amounting to €15.7 million. The total cost of the operation is estimated at €52 million.

The Commissioner will also go to the Cap Omega site, a business incubation centre for information and communication technologies which groups together 32 businesses and represents 219 jobs. The incubator has received almost €1 million from EU funds.

In addition, the Commissioner will meet representatives from research centres and universities along with entrepreneurs to discuss the "regional innovation strategy" which the region has undertaken to implement over the next two years.

2007 to 2013 programming period

Three issues form the basis of the regional strategy and underpin the priorities of the OP:

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  Innovation and the knowledge economy (40.70% from the ERDF)
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  The environment and risk prevention (34.18% from the ERDF)
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  The promotion of accessibility ( ICT and infrastructure) and the balanced development of regions (22.92% from the ERDF)

A detailed description of its strategic priorities makes it possible to estimate the share of the Community Funds allocated to the Lisbon agenda for growth and employment at more than 67% for the ERDF. For further information on the Lisbon agenda go to: http://ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/index_en.htm

Financing for 2000/2006 - 2007/2013 (million euros)

*The region will participate in three programmes under the "cooperation" objective in the 2007-2013 period. The amounts involved have not yet been divided by region.

For further information on European Regional Policy go to:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm