Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Finance his position on the possible inclusion of a separate stand-alone article on the protection and improvement of the environment in the Structural Funds regulations, currently under negotiation, along the lines of existing article 14 on equality between men and women and non-discrimination as supported by the European Parliament in its first reading in July and as also supported by several member states in the Council. [4472/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission has the right to initiate legislation in this area and has not proposed the introduction of such a stand-alone requirement in the structural fund regulations. The Commission's approach in the draft regulations ensures that activities supported by the Structural and Cohesion Funds comply with and reinforce Community legislation. While some member states have supported the introduction of a specific provision on environmental protection, the majority did not support this approach.

The general approach adopted in my Department's negotiating position has been to support the Commission's approach to simplification of the regulatory framework. This approach has the objective of streamlining the regulations of the Structural and Cohesion Funds, ensuring coherence with other Community policies and easing the administrative burden on managing authorities, implementing bodies and ultimately project promoters. Where there exists a general body of well developed Community legislation, as is the case for gender equality and the environment, my Department has supported the general approach proposed by the Commission. This position is consistent with that held by many member states. The objective is to ensure better regulation while ensuring that Community policies are reinforced.

The Structural Funds regulations already reflect a strong commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection which is supported in my Department's negotiating position in the Council working group. The Deputy may wish to note that a strategic environmental assessment is a mandatory requirement of all operational programmes developed for the future round of Structural Funds.