European Union allocates €9.7 million towards Oberhausen's development
In the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Oberhausen has been seeking financial support from the European Union (EU) for various projects since 2019. However, the journey has not been without its challenges.
According to reports, the largest portion of the funds allocated to Oberhausen comes from the EU Regional Fund. Yet, the first approval of EU funds for Oberhausen was only granted in 2023, two years after the start of the funding period of the EU Regional Fund. This delay has been a point of contention, with Stefan Zimkeit, a member of the state parliament for Oberhausen-Sterkrade and Dinslaken, criticising the "very bumpy start" in the application process for EU funds.
The expert hearing in the state parliament indicated that the state government could contribute more to simplify the application process for EU funds. The state government's role in facilitating the application process has been criticised for being insufficient, according to Zimkeit and the expert hearing.
Since 2019, 9.7 million euros have been allocated to projects in Oberhausen from EU funding programs organised by the state of NRW. These funds have been used for a variety of projects, including employment promotion, combating homelessness, and renovating teaching swimming pools, as well as the procurement of mobile end devices for students.
Despite these challenges, Oberhausen has managed to secure a significant position in EU-related projects. For instance, Fraunhofer UMSICHT Oberhausen is a consortium partner in the ABATE project under Horizon Europe, a programme aimed at developing bio-based refinery intermediates for transport fuels, with the EU contributing over €9 million to the project.
However, when it comes to specific information about the current status of EU funding for Oberhausen or the role of the black-green state government in its application process, as discussed by Stefan Zimkeit and Jens Geier, the search results are less forthcoming. For more precise information, one may need to look into local government releases, press statements, or politically focused sources related to North Rhine-Westphalia politics.
In conclusion, while Oberhausen has benefited from EU funding, the application process has not been without its complications. The city and the state government continue to navigate these challenges, with the hope of securing more funds for the betterment of Oberhausen and its citizens.
- Despite the initial challenges in the application process, education-and-self-development projects in Oberhausen have received EU funds, such as the procurement of mobile end devices for students.
- The city of Oberhausen's involvement in EU-funded business projects extends beyond finance and industry, with Fraunhofer UMSICHT Oberhausen part of the ABATE project under Horizon Europe, focused on developing bio-based refinery intermediates for transport fuels.
- The role of politics in the application process for EU funds and the current status of EU funding for Oberhausen remains unclear, necessitating investigation through local government releases, press statements, or politically focused sources related to North Rhine-Westphalia politics.
