18.11.05
Minister praises region’s Objective One aims

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have won praise from a Government Minister at the recent UK Presidency of the EU conference.

The two-day conference, “Regional and Rural Development Programmes 2007-2013”, was held earlier this month (November) in Newcastle and Gateshead and attended by representatives from EU member states. The UK currently has EU Presidency.

Mark Yeoman, Deputy Director of the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, was invited to speak at the conference. While he was there Jim Knight, Minister for Rural Affairs, openly praised this region’s handling of Objective One investment.

Mr Knight said: “Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are using Objective One in innovative ways - including demonstrating the importance of the environment as an economic driver and knowledge transfer into a rural economy through the Combined Universities in Cornwall.”

Mr Yeoman said: “This comment wholly supports the aims for the Objective One Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Partnership believes investment in a more knowledge-led economy, with the environment underpinning everything, is key to making this region a wealthier place. It is gratifying to see this publicly recognised and endorsed by central Government.”

Mr Yeoman himself gave a talk entitled “Integrating Environmental Considerations into Regional and Rural Development Programmes.” He explained how Objective One had been invested in restoring historic town centres; building environmentally friendly business units and teaching farmers river and wildlife management which can lead to better farming practices and healthier cattle. He also talked about the environment’s central role in the Combined Universities in Cornwall and in actnow, the project that has meant high speed broadband Internet access across the region. This has helped to cut travel costs and fuel consumption by making it easy for businesses to operate from home.

Since the conference requests for copies of the presentation have been received from other UK structural fund programme areas, the DG Environment office in Brussels and the Hungarian Office for Territorial and Regional Development.

Editor's notes:

The speeches and presentations given during the two days can now be downloaded from our Structural Funds website at www.dti.gov.uk/europe/presidency_event.html

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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