points out that the lack of any clear delimitation of responsibilities among local and central authorities is preventing the decentralisation process from moving forwards, and the overlapping responsibilities of different levels of public administration are having a negative effect on the quality of public services; hopes that the reforms in this area will ensure that resources are proportionate to the powers assigned; highlights that the delegation of powers to local authorities can only take place under conditions of equality between the parties, with full coverage of costs and legal protection of local autonomy; considers that the ...[+++]administrative oversight of the implementation of powers delegated to local authorities by the State should not degenerate into the surveillance of local authorities by the central government;

The network of Innovation Relay Centres, in particular, is focused specifically on the needs of less advanced regions helping local businesses access technology and identifying the technologies suitable for transfer to other regions or sectors;

Regional and local administrations are often at the forefront of the delivery of on-line public services.

Progress in 2002 has been satisfactory and initiatives and studies have been undertaken to look at the local strategy fishing industry and the port of Newlyn.

Progress in 2002 has been satisfactory and initiatives and studies have been undertaken to look at the local strategy fishing industry and the port of Newlyn.

19. The reason given by the beneficiary countries for this decline was that local authorities came to realise that the limited funds available for large projects outside the border-crossing sector (which was the domain of the national authorities), meant that the small probability of receiving funding for a large project did not justify the costs of project preparation.