EP committee votes for changes in ERDF
11 March 2009
EP Committee votes for changes in ERDF During its vote on 9 March in Strasbourg, the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament had their say on planned changes concerning funding possibilities under ERDF.If the outcome of this vote becomes reality all EU Member States and regions will be able to get EU regional development funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in housing. The changes of the rules would mean European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money could co-finance national, regional or local authority schemes to install improvements as double glazing, wall insulation or solar panels in housing or to replace old boilers with more energy efficient ones in all Member States. Until now the ERDF for these improvements was only eligible in the Member States that became members in 2004 and 2007. With the new rules, the EU is expected to help create jobs in the building trade and reduce energy consumption at the same time. At the same time, the EP committee supported the amendment, which puts up a ceiling for these developments of four percent of the total ERDF allocation of a Member State. The plenary vote in the European Parliament is foreseen for the beginning of April before the ministers of the EU-Member States give their final opinion.
