Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the Dublin-Merseyside declaration which proposes to bring the Dublin Regional Authority and the Merseyside region, with its Liverpool headquarters, closer together; the steps he will take to ensure that the two regions working in partnership can maximise their entitlement to financial, administrative and political support within European regional policy; the operational programmes to which joint applications can be made by both authorities within the context of EU cohesion policy 2007-13; the sections of his Department which are responsible for monitoring these developments; the relations they have with the Dublin Regional Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9648/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the declaration of intent by the Dublin-Merseyside regions regarding their desire to establish a programme of mutually beneficial co-operation, and particularly in the context of European Union financing for structural actions during the 2007-13 period. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, has already met the Dublin Regional Authority to discuss future EU regional development programmes and contact is ongoing.

The Deputy should be aware that current European Commission proposals on future cohesion policy include provision for a general regulation laying down a common set of rules for structural funds during the 2007-13 period, and also a proposal for a completely new regulation allowing for the creation of a cross-border cooperation structure. My Department is representing Ireland at these negotiations. Agreement on the financial perspectives for the 2007-13 period and the structural funds regulations is expected by June of this year.

The proposals provide for three new structural objectives. The first of these is a convergence objective that will be aimed at the less-developed regions and is expected to play a vital role in the new member states. The second proposal is for a regional competitiveness and employment objective that is intended to strengthen regional competitiveness by anticipating economic and social change and supporting innovation.

The third proposal is for a European territorial co-operation objective that it is intended will focus on the levels of cross-border and transnational co-operation, and also for networks for co-operation and the exchange of experiences throughout the Union. In this case the EU Commission will adopt the list of eligible cross-border regions and of transnational co-operation zones, and this will be published when the regulation is agreed.

The whole of the European Union territory is eligible for financing of European co-operation and exchange networks. It is intended that the programming will take account of specific territorial characteristics including those of cities and towns whose role in regional development will be boosted with aid for urban regeneration drawing on the experience of the URBAN community initiative. It should be stressed, however, that the amount of funding proposed by the European Commission for the European territorial co-operation objective is €13.2 billion and that this represents roughly 4% of the total amount of €336 billion proposed for all structural actions during the 2007-2103 period.

My Department will continue to monitor the developments as they unfold in the area of future EU structural policy. However, until such time as the current proposals have been agreed, and the areas of eligibility defined, it will not be possible to make specific proposals in regard to any future structural funds. The concerns of the Dublin region in the context of the Dublin/Merseyside declaration of intent will be taken into consideration in the framing of any future programming proposals.