Press Release: Structural Funds: Commission allocates over EUR 8 billion to successful programmes

The European Commission allocated on 1 April 2004 an extra €8.246 billion to European regional and social development programmes for the period 2000-2006. This sum, corresponding to 4% of the total for the Structural Funds for the fifteen existing Member States of the Union, had been held in a performance reserve to be allocated in 2004 on the basis of the performance of the programmes. The resources will be used by the Member States and regions to provide an additional boost to investment, growth and job creation.