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Wednesday, 1 April 2009 - Brussels OJ edition

ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund: provisions relating to financial management - New types of costs eligible for a contribution from the ESF - Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for housing (amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 on ERDF) (debate)
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  Oldřich Vlasák (PPE-DE). (CS) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Commission proposal has opened the opportunity for all Member States to invest Structural Fund resources in converting and repairing tower blocks and other buildings. This is particularly important for the Czech Republic because up to 26% of Czech citizens live in aging tower blocks. If the proposal is passed tomorrow and also formally approved by the Council of Ministers in April, it will open up the possibility of investing a further CZK 16 billion in heating systems for flats and houses, and not only in the Czech Republic. I also personally welcome the elimination of the requirement to use the funds only for low-income households, which I consider problematic because internal domestic rules define these in different ways.

In my opinion the Member States should have the opportunity to decide which categories of building are eligible for financing in accordance with their rules and to determine their own criteria according to their needs. We must enable better quality and cheaper housing for everyone, not just for those living in social housing. It is regrettable that it took the financial crisis to push us into supporting more investment in housing and the introduction of these measures throughout the EU. However, I wholeheartedly welcome this decision, because people have to spend their money very carefully today and in this way we will help them to save on their heating and hot water bills, and thus to reduce the cost of housing. According to an estimate from the CECODHAS organisation, European households can save an average of EUR 450 a year on these expenses, and that is tangible assistance.

 
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