1. Welcome to Objective 2 programme Meuse-Vesdre Belgium
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2. 1. Introduction
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3. 1.2 The map of the eligible area
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4. 1.3 Description of the eligible area
The eligible area covers twelve municipalities in the Liège industrial area and the Verviers agglomeration, with populations of 404 500 and 67 300 respectively. It also covers 21 municipalities which are not included in the new programming but are eligible for transitional support (phasing-out).
Per capita GDP in the province of Liège is higher than in Wallonia in general, but still remains below the Belgian and European averages. Only the district of Huy is above the Belgian average. On top of this relatively unfavourable positioning on the European stage, rates of growth in the area are below the various reference rates, resulting in a more or less permanent deterioration over the past twenty years. The latest available data are for 1997 and show growth 0.5 points above the Belgian average in that year.
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5. 1.4 Main regional indicators in EU and in Belgium, 1988-1998-9
Economy Labour market
GDP/head Empl. rate%,1999 Unempl. rate%
Agri. Indust. Servi
EU ,0 100,0 4,5 29,2 66,0 8,4 9,4 Belgique 103,2 111,3 2,4 25,8 71,8 7,2 8,8
Bruxelles-Capital 162,3 168,8 0,2 13,4 86,4 9,2 14,0
Vlaams Gewest 104,4 115,1 2,5 28,0 69,5 5,5 5,6
Antwerpen 123,8 138,5 2,2 28,1 69,8 6,4 6,5
Limburg (B) 102,6 108,5 2,1 34,5 63,4 8,5 7,0
Oost-Vlaanderen 99,0 104,1 2,7 30,4 66,9 5,3 5,9
Vlaams-Brabant 81,4 96,1 1,5 20,7 77,8 4,0 3,9
West-Vlaanderen 103,9 116,2 3,8 27,5 68,7 3,9 4,6
Region Wallonie 83,4 87,9 2,8 24,7 72,5 9,9 13,3
Brabant-Wallon 75,5 86,8 2,0 24,0 74,1 5,8 8,8
Hainaut 77,0 79,2 2,6 27,3 70,2 11,9 16,6
Liège 94,9 98,6 2,4 23,9 73,7 10,1 12,8
Luxembourg (B) 85,3 95,0 6,8 24,7 68,5 6,1 7,3
Namur 80,4 85,7 3,0 20,3 76,7 9,2 12,6
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6. 2. Development strategy
The Walloon Region’s general aim is to use the SPD to strengthen the economic and social prosperity of the eligible area by reaffirming its metropolitan status.
three priorities:
diversifying the economic base and consolidating know-how,
consolidating the international positioning of the Liège area,
sustainable urban development.
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7. 2. Development strategy
Three priorities result in five types of assistance:
diversifying the economic base (Priority 1),
joining the knowledge society (Priority 1),
boosting expertise - human resources (Priority 1),
consolidating the area’s international role (Priority 2),
promoting sustainable urban development (Priority 3).
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8. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 1
3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 1. Diversifying the economic base:
supporting investment projects;
improve conditions for the development of SMEs through services relating to management, the new ICT, electronic commerce, internationalisation and economic action through networking.
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9. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 2
3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 2. Joining the knowledge society:
focus on the development and transfer of the results of scientific research at the level of industrial development,
direct support for private sector R&D projects,
strengthening the centres of excellence,
follow-up service provision to the area’s firms and,
the establishment of support infrastructure for training in new technologies.
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10. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 3
3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 3. Promoting employability and know-how:
To provide the local labour force with fresh knowledge and better skills,
to promote social and economic redeployment in these two districts and for the metropolisation process,
to meet the specific needs of the area, so complementing the more horizontal assistance provided under Objective 3.
to supplement Priority 5 by appropriate accompanying measures for people in districts in difficulty in order to cut unemployment levels, poverty and marginalisation.
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11. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 4
3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 4. Consolidating the area’s international role:
focuses on positioning the area as a European business centre,
developing leisure functions with an international outlook,
improving the image of the area and,
seeking external complementarities.
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12. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 5
3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Priority 5. Promoting sustainable urban development:
improving the environmental situation,
cleaning up industrial sites,
regenerating urban districts, and
improving mobility.
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13. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Assessment of the expected impact
Indicator Reference Unit By 2006 By 2008 By 2010
Jobs to be created 0 number  962 3 118
Unemploy- ment rate 13.5 (1998) %
Unempl.rate women 16.5 (1998) %
Unempl.rate young pl (1998) %
Patents/ capt. 78 (1998) Index (EU15=100)
GDPpc 100.3(1997) Index (EU15=100) Growth in GDP pc compared to the Union average - 0.4(94-97) % EU average +1 (1997)
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14. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Quantification of specific objectives to be achieved
Priority 1: creation of 1 450 jobs, 100 firms and 3 business clusters
Priority 2: creation of 6 spin-offs, filing of 12 patents by aid recipients, development of 10 new products and processes, establishment of 110 partnerships between firms and training centres.
Priority 3: increase the number of adults in training, through around 100 specific assistance measures covering more than 130 000 workers or job seekers. (See Priority 5 also).
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15. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Quantification of specific objectives to be achieved
Priority 4: 10% increase in water transport, 10% increase in number of overnight stays, 700 extra jobs in the tourism sector.
Priority 5: 24 000 inhabitants to be involved in reskilling measures, use of public transport in Liège to increase by 10% and the development of environmentally-friendly means of transport to increase to 15%. 20 disused industrial sites are to be cleaned up which will allow the establishment of 5 firms, an additional waste-water treatment capacity of 30 000 Inhabitant Equivalents will cover a part of requirements estimated at 700 000 Inhabitant Equivalents.
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16. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Priority 1 - Diversifying the economic base:
1.1 Aid for industrial and service sector investments
1.2 Financial engineering
1.3 Expansion of local business potential
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17. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Priority 2 - Joining the knowledge society:
2.1 Stimulation and exploitation of technological potential
2.2 Exploitation of centres of technological excellence and networking of expertise
2.3 Development and concentration of human resources in research
2.4 Support infrastructure to bring skills into line with the new technologies
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18. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Priority 3 - Promoting employability and know-how:
3.1 Developing entrepreneurial spirit in the area
3.2 Promoting employability and know-how in the local workforce
3.3 Improving social inclusion and integration into working life in districts in crisis
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19. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Priority 4 - Consolidating the area’s international role:
4.1 Promoting the metropolitan area
4.2 Specialised business platforms
4.3 Development of tourism, heritage and cultural potential
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20. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Priority 5 - Promoting sustainable urban development:
5.1 Strategic restructuring and reskilling in areas becoming centres
5.2 Promoting public transport and environmentally-sound means of transport
5.3 Environmental management
5.4 Restoration and reuse of derelict industrial land
5.5 Aid for restoration and reuse of derelict industrial land
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21. 3. Priorities, measures and expected impact Presentation of the measures
Technical assistance (ERDF and ESF):
Providing human and material resources to ensure the coordination, management and monitoring of part- financed measures,
Mid-term and ex-post evaluation of the SPD,
Exchange of experiences among public decision- makers,
Raising general awareness through promotional measures for the SPD,
Promoting synergy between assistance started in this area under Objectives 2 and 3.
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22. 4. Management and contact details
Gouvernement Wallon - Cabinet du Ministre- Président Ministre-Président Van Cauwenberghe, Jean-Claude rue Mazy B-5100 Jambes-Namur Tel.: Fax.: : Web: Gouvernement Wallon Aides européennes et wallones Site économie du Ministère de la Région Wallonne
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23. 4. Management and contact details
Michel WOLF
REGIO-D-3
CSM 1 6/68
Tél. : 90449
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24. 5. Financial and technical information
Title : Objective 2 Programme for the Meuse- Vesdre basin (Liege) Intervention type : Single Programming Document CCI No. : 2000BE162DO008 No. of decision : C(2001) Final approval date : 11-DEC-01
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25. 6. Financial breakdown
Financial Breakdown by Funds (in millions of Euros):
EU Contribution ERDF ESF
Total :
100.00% 83.84% %
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