L. whereas, in view of budgetary constraints, there is a risk that funding available under the ERDF will be used to a large extent to boost economic competitiveness in larger urban centres or the most dynamic regions, while EAFRD financing will be focused on improving the competitiveness of agriculture, which continues to be the motor of rural areas, and will also be targeted at support for non-agricultural activities and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas, with the result that there is a need for closer coordi ...[+++]nation to ensure that no areas are left without coverage,

[Text] Question No. 160 Ms. Diane Finley: With regard to the funding of the 19 federal agricultural research stations in Canada: (a) for each fiscal year, between 1995 and 2005: (i) what was the total amount of research funding transferred by the government to each of the 19 agriculture research stations, (ii) what was the total level of staffing and the composition of the staffing (i.e. the numbers of scientists, researchers, support staff and other staff) at each of the 19 agricultural research stations, (iii) what specific research projects were funded at ...[+++] the 19 agricultural research stations in Canada, (iv) how much of the research funds were dedicated to each of the research projects, (v) what percentage of the research funding to each of the 19 agricultural research stations was dedicated to resource research, plant research, animal research, and food and value-added research; and (b) for each fiscal year, between 1995 and 2005, what percentage of the research funding to each of the 19 agricultural research stations was dedicated to other categories of agricultural and/or agri-food research?

Support for agriculture actors (farmers, cooperatives, local institutions) involved in fruit crops, forestry, forest nurseries, rearing livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries, including the distribution and planting of some 3.9 million plants, 1 million mangoes, 40,000 papaya plants, bamboo trees, distribution of chickens, pest control and other activities. These activities have created some 275,000 person-days of jobs. Support for management of natural ...[+++]resources including soil conservation, watershed protection, reforestation and environmental protection and rehabilitation in the West, Southeast, Center and South departments of the country.

The selected areas of cooperation are the following : - Development of the private sector - Support for implementation of the Public Investment Programme - Human Resources development For 1996-1997, the TACIS Action Programme (AP) will concern the following actions : PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT : ECU million - WTO and trade aspects of the Partnership and Cooperation Association (PCA) 2.7 - Confirmed support to Agricultural Cooperative Bank (ACBA) 1.0 - Establishment of an Accountancy Training Centre 1.0 - Development of the non-metalli ...[+++]c mineral resources of Armenia 1.0 Sub-total 5.7 HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT : - Support for the reform of the health sector 1.0 - Support of the decentralization of the social security system 1.0 Sub-total 2.0 Reserve 0.95 TOTAL 8.65 AZERBAIJAN The 1996-1999 TACIS Indicative Programme (IP) with a budget of ECU 32 million replaces the previous one of ECU 34.9 million which covered the period 1993-1995.

- 6 - THAILAND: 2 850 000 ECU _______________________ This project will involve a major water resource study aimed at confirming the feasibility of long-term proposals for the optimum development of the water resources of Northern and Central Thailand, involving the transfer of water from the Mekong catchment to the Chao Phya catchment, the development of irrigation potential in the Mekong catchment and the increased availability of water for power, agricultural, domestic and industrial use in the Chao Phya catchment.

ALGERIA : 3 900 000 ECU Training of administrative staff for heavy industry The aims of the project are as follows : - provision of management training for 6 000 senior administrative staff in Algerian heavy industry over 5 years in the following fields : general administration, production management, financial management and accountancy, management of human resources, project management and marketing ; - training of instructors so as to ensure the continuity and staffing of the programmes ; - purchase of teaching aids (library and documentation) and of technical back-up equipment (photocopiers, slide-projectors, etc...) to ensure the ...[+++]smooth operation of the three training centres ; - 2 - TUNISIA : 1 000 000 ECU Strengthening the research capacity of the Directorate of Water Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture The steady development of agriculture is one of the priorities of the VIth Tunisian Economic Development Plan (1982-1986).