EUROPEAN FUNDING

Agenda 2000 is the name of the European Commission's financial proposals for the period 2000-2006. They were agreed by the Council of Ministers in March 1999. Agenda 2000 is due to replace the current funding regimes from 1 January 2000. Programmes should start early in 2000.

From 2000 the EU will have three Structural Funds instead of the previous six:

Objective 1 will promote the development of areas seriously lagging behind the EU average.

Objective 2 will support the economic and social development of areas facing structural difficulties.

Objective 3 will support the adaptation and modernisation of education, training and employment systems and policies.

There will be four remaining Community Initiatives financed by the Structural Funds compared to the previous thirteen. Other previous Community Initiatives will be incorporated into the Objectives.

INTERREG is for cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation.

EQUAL is for transnational co-operation to combat labour market inequalities and discrimination.

LEADER is for rural development.

URBAN is for creating a sustainable urban environment through the economic and social regeneration of cities and urban neighbourhoods.

Matching funding is required for all the Structural Funds. The Structural Funds will contribute between 50% and 75% of the total cost of projects under Objective 1, and between 25% and 50% under Objectives 2 and 3.

In every member state of the European Union there are national or regional programmes for each appropriate Objective. There is still much negotiation to be undertaken before the programmes are due to begin. Voluntary organisations wanting further information about European funding should contact Halton Borough Council's European Officer:

Ann Steel, Chief Executive's Directorate, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes, WA8 7QF.
Telephone: 0151 471 7410.
Fax: 0151 471 7301.
E-mail: Ann.Steel@halton-borough.gov.uk.

Alternatively, contact the regional voluntary sector European Office at:
North West Network, Government Office for the North West, Room 1320, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE.
Telephone: 0161 952 4268.

Resources

A Guide to European Union Funding, by Peter Sluiter and Laurence Wattier, published by the Directory of Social Change at £18.95, 1999, 224pp. ISBN 1 900360 50 0.

The Way Through the Labyrinth: A Guide to European Union Funding for Non Profit Sector, published by ECAS, distributed by the Charities Aid Foundation at £29.95, 1998.

Grants from Europe: How to Get Money and Influence Policy, 8th edition by Ann Davidson, published by NCVO Publications at £12.50, 1997, 168pp. ISBN 0 7199 1502 3.

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