European Funding is allocated to Scotland through a variety of programmes. This section provides a brief overview of the main funding sources that are of interest to the Falkirk Council area.
The main source of European Union (EU) funding in Scotland is delivered through the European Structural Funds. The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for their implementation, and ESEP Ltd has been appointed as an Intermediate Administration Body (IAB) to administer the funds. The new Structural Fund Programmes run from 2007-2013 and further information on these can be found on the following sites:
In previous years the funds have provided financial support towards a wide variety of projects in the Falkirk Council area, including local learning facilities, job matching for unemployed people, local environmental and regeneration projects, marketing support, support for small to medium sized businesses, improving access to ICT, construction of a new childcare training centre, support for Forth Valley Sensory Centre and large-scale tourism development projects such as the park and ride facility at the Falkirk Wheel.
The budget set for the new programmes will now include the 10 new member states who joined the EU in May 2004. This will therefore, present the funds with a new set of priorities and challenges to address.
Information on other sources of EU funding and general EU policy can be found on the Europa website|.
The European Commission has a representation office in Scotland based in Edinburgh. The office is a useful starting point if you are looking for general information. You can contact them at 9 Alva Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4PH tel: 0131 225 2058 fax: 0131 226 4015.