The West Wales and the Valleys area has been awarded the highest level of support (£1.4 billion), known as the Convergence programmes, from the European Union under the new European Structural Funds programming period 2007–2013. The Convergence programme is the successor to the Objective 1 programme 2000–2006, and geographically will cover 15 local authority areas in the West Wales and the Valleys area. East Wales has been designated as a Regional Competitiveness and Employment area with an approximate funding allocation of £97 million (€136 million) for 2007-2013, covering 7 local authority areas.  Parts of Wales will also be eligible for Territorial Co-operation Programmes (between the West coast of Wales and the East coast of Ireland); trans-national and inter-regional programmes.  Read more....