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The Commission has approved an economic
and social development programme
for the Greek region of Crete for
the period of 2000-2006. The cost
of the programme will total almost
EURO 786,36 million, with EURO
508,43 million (64,7% of the total
budget) which will come from the
EU Structural Funds.
1. Action Priorities
The proposed aid will make it possible to promote Crete's development and structural
adjustment by providing support for transport, communications, innovation and
rural development. The priorities of the programme are:
Priority 1 : Strengthening the region's role as
a technological development and research centre, moving innovation forward
and strengthening competitiveness.
The University of Crete has promoted the region's role as a technological
development and research centre. Financial support will move innovation forward
and strengthen competitiveness. The programme aims to promote Crete's role
as an internationally recognised technological development centre.
Priority 2 : Safeguarding the environment and narrowing the disparities
between regions. There are many intra-regional disparities between
coastal and interior areas. Crete has a wild natural interior beauty
which is ignored by the most of the tourists of coastal areas. The programme
will help the diversification and improvement of the tourist product
by increasing in value and promoting mountain activities, cultural assets,
and the touristic infrastructure of its mountains with the improvement
of the existing infrastructure and the creation of conditions for lasting
development by taking environmental problems more into consideration.
Priority 3 : Promoting the region's gateway in the context of
international transport networks. Financial support will secure
substantial investments in infrastructure, and in transport communications,
in particular, which is essential if the difficulties arising from the
remote and isolated nature of the region, are to be overcome. Crete's
geopolitical position also offers many possibilities for the promotion
of the region as Europe's gateway in the context of international transport
networks.
Priority 4 : Improving business activity and enhancing living
conditions in major urban centres. Aid to
businesses will focus on productive investments and will go hand-in-hand
with measures for cross-fertilisation of innovation and entrepreneurship
in new economy sectors. The most important urban centre of the region
(Heraklion) presents all the problems of a big city and the taking of
appropriate measures will help enhance living conditions for the inhabitants.
Priority 5 : Developing mountain and other rural areas. There
is a need to modernise the rural infrastructure and to better adapt the production
to promote the sustainable development of rural and mountain areas. On the
other hand, sustainable rural development must take into consideration the
exceptional natural environment of the region. Eco-tourism represents an
important opportunity for the integrated development of these areas with
many natural and cultural attractions.
Priority 6 : Creating jobs - promoting equal opportunities . Support
for businesses will be backed up by measures to improve the skills of small
businesses, including the agricultural sector, with regard to management,
the use of new information society technologies and the increasing of exports
through the development of new ways of promoting local products. As well
as the measures outlined above, improvements in training opportunities will
help to establish the conditions for creation of new jobs and for sustainable
and equitable growth.
Priority 7 : Technical assistance. There is also provision
for technical assistance to implement the programme. Financial support is
available covering administration, monitoring and control.
2. Description of the eligible areas
Crete has structural problems, owing mainly to its remoteness from
central Europe. However, unlike the situation in other outlying regions of
Greece, the population of Crete (562 276 in 1998) has been rising steadily
(up 2.58% between 1993 and 1998, against an increase in Greece of 1.56%).
The programme seeks to make good use of the region's potential where the
service sector plays a vital role in the economy (accounting for 50% of the
work force and 56% of GDP).
3. Management and contact details
The Managing Authority for the programme is a Special Service
of the Region of Crete under the direct authority of the General Secretary
of the Region. The implementation and the monitoring of the programme will
be based on partnership between the regional authorities and local organisations,
including the social and economic partners, and environmental and equal opportunities'
organisations.
Region of Crete
Managing Authority of OP CRETE CSF III
Doukos Bofor, 7 - GR 710 01 Heraklion
Tel.: +30.2810.334410-20-30
Fax.: +30.2810.335040
E-mail.: kriti@mou.gr
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