PROGRAMME FOR ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(21202)
8134/00
COM(00) 256
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Commission Communication containing proposals for a Council Decision on a Multi-Annual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (2001-2005).
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| Legal base: |
Article 157(3); consultation; unanimity
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| Department: |
Trade and Industry |
| Basis of consideration:
| SEM of 21 July 2000 |
| Previous Committee Report:
| HC 23-xix (1999-2000), paragraph 8 (24 May 2000)
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| To be discussed in Council:
| December 2000 |
| Committee's assessment:
| Politically important |
| Committee's decision:
| Not cleared; awaiting further information
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Introduction
4.1 When the Commission presented this programme
earlier this year, it described it as a major instrument for achieving
a competitive and dynamic economy. When we reported on it, we
asked the Minister of State for Energy and Competitiveness in
Europe (the Rt. Hon. Helen Liddell) to provide us with a Supplementary
Explanatory Memorandum on the budget proposed in the Commission's
Financial Statement, which was issued after her Explanatory Memorandum
on the proposal was drafted.
The Financial Statement
4.2 The Commission proposes a budget of
229 million euro for this multi-annual programme, which will run
from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005. The major expenditure
will be on the operation of the Euro Info Centres (75 million
euro), loan guarantee schemes (50 million euro) and seed capital
(24 million euro).
The Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum
4.3 The Minister comments on these proposed
plans for expenditure as follows:
"The Government is broadly content with the
Commission's expenditure plans under the new Multi-Annual Programme.
The UK will seek to ensure consistency with funding in other Community
Programmes.
"The Government notes the overall change in
budget — up from 180 million euro for the last Multi-Annual
Programme (1997-2000) to 229 million euro and that the expenditure
proposed is intended to cover five years of activities compared
with the four years covered by previous Multi-Annual Programmes.
The Government supports the expenditure on policy development,
research and sharing best practice, but would like to see this
spend underpinned with an indication of priority areas for action
by the Commission.
"The Government is aware that the proposed expenditure
on loan guarantees and seed capital, which between them amount
to 75 million euro is due to additional money to help improve
access to finance for small businesses. It again notes the proposed
spend of 75 million euro on the Euro Info Centres which is significantly
higher than the budget proposed for other areas of activity.
"The Government realises that discussion on
the budget and the proposed new Programme has only just begun.
It is likely that the proposal for a Decision on the Multi-Annual
Programme will be amended before it goes to the Industry Council
in December for Common Position."
Conclusion
4.4 We thank the Minister for her comments,
from which we deduce that the Government may seek amendments to
the sums proposed. We note her undertaking to keep us informed
of developments and meanwhile we shall not clear the document.
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