The EU's statistical office Eurostat has announced that average per capita GDP in the EU amounted to Ecu 19,287 in 1997, a matter of importance for the regional fund. The regions which qualify for priority funding will take up approximately two-thirds of the Ecu 218 billion fund in the years ahead. The criteria for Objective One funding remains a GDP per capita of less than 75 per cent of the EU average, and Eurostat's figures reveal that those that qualify include the whole of Greece, most of Spain and Portugal, five regions in Italy and seven regions from the former East Germany, one area of Austria and four French overseas departments, as well as Merseyside from the UK. Ireland no longer qualifies.
South Yorkshire, with a GDP per capita of Ecu 12,426 or 72 per cent of the EU average, is a new entrant into the poorest areas category, but the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, with 76 per cent, just limps out of the bottom table, as does Northern Ireland with 78 per cent of EU average. Eurostat also reports a 1.3 per cent decline in growth rates in Merseyside and Grampian regions.