Objective 1 Programme for Cantabria
Programme description
The European Commission has decided to take active part in the development of the Autonomous Region of Cantabria. To this end, during the period 2000-2006 it will contribute to the financing of the operational programme of transitory aid by virtue of Objective no. 1. The contribution from the Structural Funds amounts to 296.5 million Euros out of a total budget of 519 million Euros.
Eligible areas / Contact / Financial tables 1. Action PrioritiesThe programme is organised around seven lines of priority action and a series of measures related to technical assistance. Priority 1: Improvement of competitiveness and development of productive base. Measures will be taken to give the tourist sector a boost in order to establish a leisure industry that complements and reinforces the offer in services currently available in Cantabria. Special emphasis will be put on the small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector, in such a way that sector development contributes to strengthening the region�s business base. At the same time, new impetus will be given to the improvement of competitiveness in activities centred on ports and harbours, in recognition of the fact that such activities represent one of the region�s strong points. Priority 2: Knowledge society (innovation, R&D, information society)The measures included in this priority will foment the development of activities related to the information society and to R&D. Encouragement will be given to the transfers of technology between the world of research and the business world, with the University of Cantabria playing a key role. Given that Cantabria lacks a regional operator of its own in the area of cutting-edge telecommunications, special treatment will be given to related services with a high added value. Priority 3: Environment, natural surroundings and water resources The aim of this priority is to promote the conservation and improvement of the environment and the natural surroundings in such a way that their positive effects on economic activities such as tourism are enhanced. As for water resources, steps will be taken to guarantee the water supply, above all to the Besaya basin (a highly industrialised zone) and the areas furthest from the coast. Priorities 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E: Training and employmentWith regard to improving the educational infrastructure and giving greater weight to technical-professional training (line of priority action 4A), Cantabria needs to develop specialised training structures that will permit the regional supply of qualified manpower to adapt itself to the demand for new jobs. Under this head also appear the occupational integration and reintegration of the unemployed (line of priority action 4B), support for job stability and adaptability (line of priority action 4C), the integration in the labour market of people with special problems (line of priority action 4D) and the participation of women in the labour market (line of priority action 4E). Priority 5: Local and urban developmentMeasures will be adopted to strengthen social infrastructures throughout the region, above all in the areas of education and health, in such a way that the gap between the large urban areas and the small and medium-sized towns and villages is bridged, at the same time as appropriate welfare levels are guaranteed throughout the whole of Cantabria�s territory. Furthermore, at the local level it is anticipated that steps will be taken to provide businesses with the infrastructures necessary for their development and the improvement of their competitiveness. Priority 6: Transport and energy networksAs far as energy is concerned, steps will be taken to remedy the absence of any home-grown infrastructures. This absence puts a brake on such investments in the area that would permit Cantabria to approach energy self-sufficiency, bearing in mind the considerable natural resources it has available. In this field, encouragement will be given to collaboration between the private and public sectors. As for transport, priority will be given to various road infrastructures which today plainly leave a lot to be desired (the vertical axis between Cantabria and the hinterland, and the horizontal axis that joins together the Cantabrian coast). Integrating actions will also be embarked upon in the Atlantic Area. In addition, the rail networks and port and harbour infrastructures will be enhancedPriority 7: Agriculture and rural development Priority will be given to the development of a sustainable rural economy by encouraging the diversification of business activities into other sectors such as rural tourism. Aid will be provided to assist in the commercialisation of farming products and in the restructuring of the rural environment, where the application of community policies has generated over-production in certain farming sub-sectors (above all dairy products). Technical assistance: At the same time, the application of measures for the management, publicising, monitoring, control and evaluation of the programme has been planned. 2. Description of the eligible areasLocated on the Cantabrian coast, the Autonomous Region of Cantabria forms part of the European Atlantic Area. It covers an area of 52,900 Km2 and has a population of 527,400 inhabitants in 102 municipalities. Of these, only two, Santander and Torrelavega, have more than 50,000 inhabitants and concentrate nearly 50% of the region�s population. In 1998, its GDP per inhabitant was 76% of the UE average, with services being the sector that created most added value. Cantabria�s industrial system is based on sectors with a long history and with deep imbalances between them. Industry is centred on iron and steel and industrial chemicals. The shortage of available industrial land hinders the development of the view investment projects generated by the region�s limited entrepreneurial spirit. And for a variety of reasons, foreign investment does not make up for this shortcoming. As for transport, serious deficiencies in road communication with the hinterland and in rail transportation have been detected. At the same time, major bottlenecks are frequent along the accesses to Santander, which makes a ring road essential if entry to the city is to be made easier. Cantabria also has high unemployment figures (15.7% in 1999), especially among women and young people. Cantabria boasts hydrological resources that are yet to be exploited sufficiently. On the other hand, the grave territorial imbalances in infrastructures and the provision of social services means that the region is in danger of becoming divided into two deeply differentiated zones: the coast and the valleys. Nevertheless, the region has great potential as a tourist destination in the midst of a privileged natural environment. In fact, the architectural and archaeological heritage of Cantabria, together with its range of organised activities, make up a rich offer in terms of tourism and leisure that may overcome the seasonal nature of the tourism and leisure sector. Cantabria also enjoys good environmental conditions, with a record of important achievements in the fields of solid urban waste management, the treatment of water and the control of air pollution. Its ports, whether commercial or for sporting pursuits, offer many opportunities for leisure and maritime trade.In the last few years, the university has been highly active in terms of R&D, both in relation to the environment and the information society. It is thanks to just this activity that Cantabria will be able to overcome its structural weaknesses.
3. Management and contact detailsThe General Directorate of European Funds and Territorial Finance (DGFCFT) of the Sub-Secretariat of State for Budgets and Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance is the authority that manages this integrated programme of operation. It is responsible for co-ordinating all the participants in the programme start-up and for organising the meetings of the monitoring Committee.
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improvement of competitiveness and development of productive base | 32.550.940,00 | 57.175.479,00 | 57.175.479,00 |
| Knowledge society (innovation, R&D, information society) | 16.082.986,00 | 35.936.861,00 | 35.936.861,00 |
| Environment, natural surroundings and water resources | 56.625.882,00 | 97.341.754,00 | 97.341.754,00 |
| Educational infrastructure and giving greater weight to technical-professional training | 16.911.190,00 | 25.807.939,00 | 25.807.939,00 |
| Integration and reintegration of the unemployed | 15.719.488,00 | 24.183.830,00 | 24.183.830,00 |
| Support for job stability and adaptability | 8.559.128,00 | 12.227.325,00 | 12.227.325,00 |
| The integration in the labour market of people with special problems | 1.498.680,00 | 2.140.969,00 | 2.140.969,00 |
| Participation of women in the labour market | 2.764.232,00 | 3.685.642,00 | 3.685.642,00 |
| Local and urban development | 68.820.078,00 | 103.069.562,00 | 103.069.562,00 |
| Transport and energy networks | 47.000.023,00 | 79.451.038,00 | 79.451.038,00 |
| Agriculture and development | 41.976.164,00 | 99.464.588,00 | 99.464.588,00 |
| Technical assistance | 1.100.358,00 | 1.513.812,00 | 1.513.812,00 |
| Total | 309.609.149,00 | 541.998.799,00 | 541.998.799,00 |