The European Parliament has entered the pre-election political fray by approving a report which slams the government’s management of EU structural funds as biased and undemocratic. At the same time it has called for the launch of new regional development agencies – a key Labour Party policy.
Research by the European Parliament Committee on Regional Policy attacks the UK government for passing off EU money as national government contributions and retaining control of funding decisions instead of involving local authorities, and passing off EU money.
The document adds: “The general public is often unaware that projects are funded from Europe and groups and organisations have little access to information about how they can find funds. Too often government press releases give the impression that schemes are national government projects promoted by national financial resources.”
It also “regrets” the involvement of quangos in the allocation of funding at the expense of local authorities. It calls on the government “to strengthen the role of local authority and to allow elected members to sit on monitoring committees to enhance the democratic accountability of the funds.”
Regional development agencies are recommended by the European Parliament to co-ordinate the planning of structure funds. It also urges the setting up of independent secretariats to monitor the use of EC money and greater involvement of the private sector as future match-funders.
The report has been forwarded to the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and the UK Government for consideration.
EGi News 30/04/97
