THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, and in particular Article 4(4) thereof,
After consulting the Committee on the Development and Conversion of Regions, the Committee on Agricultural Structures and Rural Development and the Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture,
Whereas:
(1)
Objective 2 of the Structural Funds is to support the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties.
(2)
The Commission and the Member States seek to ensure that assistance is genuinely concentrated on the areas most seriously affected and at the most appropriate geographical level.
(3)
The ceiling for eligible population is 192 000 habitants, in accordance with Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, laying down the ceiling for the Slovak Republic at 31 % of the population of the NUTS II regions not covered by Objective 1.
(4)
The Commission, on the basis of proposals from the Member States and in close concertation with the Member State concerned, draws up the list of the areas eligible under Objective 2 with due regard to national priorities,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: