Objective 2
"...to support the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties..."
What are European Union Structural Funds and Objective 2?
Objective 2 areas in England are funded through the England Rural Development Programme. All ERDP schemes in Objective 2 Areas operate as in other areas except for some measures under the Rural Enterprise Scheme. For RES in all Objective 2 regions, except the South East and Greater London, the funding for the nine measures in the Rural Enterprise Scheme under Article 33 of Regulation 1257/1999 will be split between ERDF, through the relevant Objective 2 SPDs (Single Programming Document), and EAGFF, through the Programme. These arrangements cover funding for "renovation and development of villages and conservation of the rural heritage","tourist and craft activity" and "basic services for the rural economy and population". A total of £152 million of EU and Government money has been allocated to the RES for the period April 2001 to the end of 2006, indicative financial allocations have been made on a regional basis, with weighting to take account of Objective 2 area designations (i.e. priority areas for EU assistance) under the EU Structural Funds Regulation.
Other funding priorities under the Objective 2 SPD have yet to be agreed with the EU and will be delivered by Regional Development Agencies rather than Defra (although all agricultural support in these areas will be delivered through the ERDP).Further information on Objective 2 regions across Europe can be viewed at IQ-Net, the website of the European Policies Research Centre.
Information on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can be found on the CLG website.
Page last modified:
4 October, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002