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Responsible Authorities

European Commission

The European Commission oversees the implementation of the Programme.

The Commission monitors progress towards the financial and implementation objectives as set out in the SPD, approves payments to the Scottish Executive, undertakes financial control and audit checks, and attends monitoring committees in an advisory capacity. Within the Commission, overall responsibility for the Programme rests with the Desk Officer (Scotland) in the UK & Ireland Unit within DG Regional Policy, who operates in conjunction with her counterparts in DG Employment and Social Affairs (ESF), DG Agriculture (EAGGF) and DG Fisheries (FIFG).  The current DG Regional Policy desk officer is Mrs Rachel Lancry.

Scottish Executive

The Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department, comprising the Scottish Ministers and their officials, has administrative and financial responsibility for the Structural Funds in Scotland. In addition, the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) manage and implement the majority of European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) Schemes which operate under the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme.

The Structural Funds Division has a website which contains information on activities across Scotland.

Scottish Parliament

The Highlands and Islands Programme has been developed in the new policy context of devolution. The Scottish Parliament took on legislative and executive responsibility for a range of functions previously the responsibility of the Westminster Parliament on 1st July 1999. The Scottish Ministers, drawn from the elected Members of the Scottish Parliament, are accountable to that Parliament for the administration of those functions.

The remit of the Scottish Parliament`s European Committee is to consider and report on proposals for European Communities legislation; the implementation of European Communities legislation; and any European Communities or European Union issue.