Fashion, apparel, textile, merchandising, garments

1. Welcome to Objective 2 programme North of the Netherlands

2. 1. Introduction The European Commission has decided to actively participate in the development of the northern part of the Netherlands by co-financing the Objective 2 Programme for the period 2000-2006. The Structural Fund will contribute 341,9 million Euros to the total budget of 1.237,450 million Euros.

3. 1.2 The map of the eligible area

4. 1.3 Description of the eligible area The programme involves three provinces in northern Netherlands: Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe. This region of 1.364.000 residents is characterised by a limited economic structure with a small percentage of small- and medium-sized businesses and few local employment initiatives. Historically, the economy in the North has been based upon traditional, labour-intensive industry, such as apparel manufacturing. Today, the proportion of agriculture and industry is still higher than the Dutch average. New sectors, such as telecommunications, medical technology and biotechnology, are beginning to emerge.

5. 1.3 Description of the eligible area Businesses have difficulty turning a profit because of the uniformity of the economic sector. Yet it is believed that the three provinces in question have great potential and that it will be possible to overcome weaknesses by consolidating economic activity in centralized areas. The concentration of personal and professional spheres in centralised areas allows for urban areas to save time and money, which stimulates economic growth and diversification while favouring the construction of facilities and infrastructure.

6. 1.4 Main regional indicators in EU and in the Netherlands in 1988-1998-9 Source: Second report on Economic and Social Cohesion, January 2001 Economy Labour market GDP/head Empl. rate%,1999 Unempl. rate% 1988 1998 Agri. Indust. Servi. 1989 1999 EU 15 100,0 100,0 4,5 29,2 66,0 8,4 9,4 Nederland 97,7 111,0 3,0 21,2 70,6 8,4 3,3 Noord Nederland 94,2 104,9 3,9 24,9 65,9 10,8 5,3 Groningen 119,1 130,8 2,4 23,5 67,8 12,4 6,0 Friesland 79,7 93,3 3,8 26,2 65,2 11,0 4,1 Drenthe 82,4 89,4 5,9 24,8 64,6 8,2 5,9 Oost-Nederland 83,9 96,4 3,6 23,6 67,6 8,9 3,0 Overijssel 86,2 96,9 4,0 28,4 62,4 9,0 3,1 Gelderland 83,9 98,6 3,5 21,6 69,5 8,8 3,0 Flevoland 72,7 80,8 3,1 18,9 73,6 8,7 3,1 West-Nederland 107,0 125,3 2,3 16,3 76,3 8,0 3,1 Utrecht 103,4 142,4 1,1 15,7 78,5 7,3 2,3 Noord-Holland 111,7 131,9 2,3 15,0 77,8 8,1 3,3 Zuid-Holland 104,7 117,7 2,6 16,5 75,7 8,4 3,2 Zeeland 107,0 100,6 4,0 26,5 63,9 6,7 3,5 Zuid-Nederland 92,1 107,1 3,7 27,6 63,4 8,1 3,1 Noord-Brabant 93,5 111,9 3,6 27,5 64,1 8,1 2,8 Limburg (NL) 89,5 97,1 3,8 27,7 62,0 8,0 3,7

17. 4. Management and contact information The SNN (Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland), the co-operation body of the Northern Netherlands, is the Management Authority for the Objective 2 Programme. It co-ordinates the activities of all parties involved in the implementation of the programme and organises meetings of the Monitoring Committee. The programmes are conducted in close consultation with representatives of local and socio-economic partners.

18. 4. Management and contact information Provincie Drenthe - Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Provinciehuis - Westerbrink 1 Postbus 122 NL-9400 AC Assen Tel.: +31.592.365573 Fax.: +31.592.365777 E-mail.: mailto:info@ snnonline . nl Web: Drenthe

19. 4. Management and contact information Provincie Friesland - Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Provinciehuis - Tweebaksmarkt 52 Postbus 20120 NL-8900 HM Leeuwarden Tel.: +31.58.2925161 E-mail.: mailto:info@ snnonline . nl Web: Friesland

20. 4. Management and contact information Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland Laan Corpus den Hoorn 200 - Postbus 779 NL-9700 AT Groningen Tel.: +31.50.5224900/4940 Fax.: +31.50.5276091 E-mail.: mailto: subsidie -info@ snnonline . nl Web: Samenwerkingsverband Noord - Nederland (SNN)

21. 4. Management and contact information Provincie Groningen - Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) Provinciehuis - Martinikerhof, 12 Postbus 610 NL-9700 AP Groningen Tel.: +31.50.3164452 E-mail.: mailto:info@ snnonline . nl Web: Groningen

22. 4. Management and contact information European Commission: Mr. Willebrord. Sluyters DG Regio D3 (Benelux, Austria) CSM1, 6/97 B-1049 Brussels Tel.: +32-2- 295 46 67 Fax: +32-2- 296 64 71 e-mail: willebrordus.sluyters@cec.eu.int

23. 5. Financial and technical information Title : Objective 2 Programme for the North of the Netherlands Intervention type : Single Programming Document CCI No. : 2000NL162DO001 No. of decision : C(2001)1402 Final approval date : 19-JUL-01

24. 6. Financial breakdown Breakdown of Finances by priority area (in millions of Euros) Priority area Total EU Public aid cost cont. (EC+oth.) 1 Consolidation of the private sector 910.285 201.045 546.945 2 Development of urban centres 181.115 81.500 181.115 3 Improve the functioning of the labour market 136.700 54.680 136.700 4 Technical assistance 9.350 4.675 9.350 Total 1237.450 341.900 874.110 Financial Breakdown by Funds (in millions of Euros) EU Contribution ERDF Total : 341.900 341.900 100.00% 100.00%