Objective 1 Programme for Ceuta
Programme description
The European Commission has decided to take active part in the development of the Autonomous City of Ceuta, contributing to the financing of the programme for Objective no.1 during the period 2000-2006. The contribution from the Structural Funds reaches 77.1 million Euros out of a total budget of 105.5 million Euros.
Eligible areas / Contact / Financial tables 1. Action PrioritiesThe programme is organised around 8 lines of priority action and a series of measures related to technical assistance. Priority 1: Improvement of competitiveness and development of productive baseIt is a question of carrying on with the improvement and modernisation of the existing infrastructures and of giving incentives to companies that produce goods intended for the European market to locate in Ceuta. It is also intended to turn Ceuta into a commercial logistics platform in order to carry out exports to third party countries. Aid will be made available for the creation of new companies, while the setting up of a nursery for new businesses is also envisaged. Forecasts are for six annual initiatives, 6 training courses per year and 4 annual self-employment initiatives. Priority 3: Environment, natural surroundings and water resourcesThis priority counts among its objectives the creation of a Management Plan for urban waste, which will include the closure of the Santa Catalina waste tip. The anticipated action in the field of water treatment and supply has as its goal a guaranteed supply of water to the whole population. It is also planned to restore plant and animal life and to condition beaches and forest paths. Above all, encouragement will be given to the protection and regeneration of the natural surroundings. At the same time, the control and reduction of environmental contamination will be closely monitored.Priority 4A: Educational infrastructure and enhanced technical and professional trainingThis priority includes the construction, renovation and equipping of various educational centres in order to increase the offer of school places for all educational levels. It also includes the implantation of diplomas in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Civil Service Management, Business Studies and Information Technology. Priority 4B: Occupational integration and reintegration of the unemployed The aim is to increase levels of activity in the population as a whole, but with special emphasis on the young and the long-term unemployed. Priority 4D: Integration in the labour market of people with special difficulties This priority has to do with people who are in danger of exclusion, if not excluded already. They will be offered opportunities to enter the labour market. Studies aimed at carrying out an accurate diagnosis of the number and situation of these groups will be given backing. Priority 4E: Participation of women in the labour market Here the challenge is to improve women�s chances of employment and their entrepreneurial capacity, to combat wage discrimination, and to suggest measures that make work and family life compatible. Priority 5: Local and urban developmentThe aim is to create the conditions that enable current problems to be overcome and to support the development of the tourist sector. It is, for example, planned to try to attract the presence of conventions and businesses. The quality of life will be improved in certain districts of the city which manifest considerable shortcomings in terms of complementary infrastructures. At the same time, health services will be improved. There are projects of many kinds, including the building of a Moslem cemetery, a Centre for Marine Studies, the conservation of Ceuta�s heritage, the creation of a Sea Museum and a Convention Centre, and a face-lift for the peripheral districts. Priority will be given to the technological renovation of health centres and hospitals with high-tech material and starting with the renovation of existing equipment. Priority 6: Transport and energy networksWork already under way to improve existing roads will be continued, while the working of the docks and the Ceuta Port Authority will be optimised. 30,000 square metres of the dock area will be conditioned after a million cubic metres have been filled in. 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 areasThe city of Ceuta is located at the north-western tip of the African continent. The municipal boundaries enclose an area of 20 km2 across the water from the coast of western Andalusia. In 1998, Ceuta had a population of 72,117 inhabitants, with a demographic density of 3,898 inhabitants per km2, way above the national average of 78.8 inhabitants. The population is moreover very young �more than half are under thirty years old�and grows faster than the national average. In 1999, the unemployment rate was 27.38%. Economic activity in Ceuta is mainly centred on the services sector. There is no agriculture or livestock farming, and industry is almost non-existent. The tertiary sector soaks up almost 85% of the working population. It is also this sector which bears the brunt of unemployment, due in part to the loss of commercial incentives and the crisis that is currently hitting the city�s tourist sector. As far as education is concerned, the five centres Ceuta has for secondary and sixth-form education are insufficient. What is more, there are only two University Schools �an insufficient offer for the strong demand existing among Ceuta�s young inhabitants.The city�s high population density has negative repercussions for house buying: the actual housing shortfall amounts to some 3,000 dwellings. To the shortcomings in basic infrastructures are to be added the difficulties experienced in some of Ceuta�s peripheral districts on account of its occupying a frontier position. The city therefore stands in need of considerable investment to overcome current handicaps. What is more, the two hospital centres are operating under conditions of massification and offer deficient services.
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 | 7.536.190,00 | 10.364.094,00 | 10.364.094,00 |
| Knowledge-based society (Innovation, R&D and the information society) | 200.000,00 | 266.666,00 | 266.666,00 |
| Environment, natural surroundings and water resources | 4.021.609,00 | 5.287.272,00 | 5.287.272,00 |
| Educational infrastructure and enhanced technical and professional training | 4.768.317,00 | 6.811.881,00 | 6.811.881,00 |
| Occupational integration and reintegration of the unemployed | 3.734.001,00 | 5.334.287,00 | 5.334.287,00 |
| Insertion of people with particular difficulties in the labour market | 924.000,00 | 1.232.000,00 | 1.232.000,00 |
| Participation of women in the labour market | 2.383.999,00 | 2.980.002,00 | 2.980.002,00 |
| Local and urban development | 52.063.784,00 | 70.389.967,00 | 70.389.967,00 |
| Transport and energy networks | 4.043.000,00 | 6.620.389,00 | 6.620.389,00 |
| Technical assistance | 824.732,00 | 1.030.916,00 | 1.030.916,00 |
| Total | 80.499.632,00 | 110.317.474,00 | 110.317.474,00 |