shall aim at reducing the disparities
between the levels of development of the various regions and the
backwardness of the least-favoured regions, including rural areas.
ARTICLE 130b
Member States shall conduct their economic policies and shall co-
ordinate them is such a way as, in addition, to attain the objectives set
out in Article 130a. The formulation and implementation of the
Community's policies and actions and the implementation of the
internal market shall take into account the objectives set out in Article
130a and shall contribute to their achievement. The Community shall
also support the achievement of these objectives by the action it takes
through the Structural Funds (European Agricultural Guidance and
Guarantee Fund, Guidance Section; European Social Fund; European
Regional Development Fund), the European Investment Bank and
other existing financial instruments.
The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament, the
Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions every three years on the progress made towards achieving
economic and social cohesion and on the manner in which the various
means provided for in this Article have contributed to it. This report
shall, if necessary, be accompanied by appropriate proposals.
If specific actions prove necessary outside the Funds and without
prejudice to the measures decided upon within the framework of the
other Community policies, such actions may be adopted by the
Council acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and
after consulting the European Parliament, the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
ARTICLE 130c
The European Regional Development Fund is intended to help redress
the main regional imbalances in the Community through participation
in the development and structural adjustments of regions whose
development is lagging behind and in the conversion of declining
industrial regions.
ARTICLE 130d
Without prejudice to Article 130e, the Council, acting unanimously on a
proposal from the Commission and after obtaining the assent of the
European Parliament and consulting the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions, shall define the tasks,
priority objectives and the organization of the Structural Funds, which
may involve grouping the Funds. The Council, acting by the same
procedure, shall also define the general rules applicable to them and
the provision