Bradford looks set to lose millions of pounds of European regional aid as part of major reforms unveiled in Brussels today.

West Yorkshire Euro MP Barry Seal is fighting to retain Bradford's Objective Two funding which draws millions of pounds into the poorer districts. Bradford Council has also contacted the district's MPs asking them to press urgently for the funding to be retained.

But today it was announced that only two British regions will now qualify as poor enough to share in a massive new aid package.

South Yorkshire and Merseyside are among 46 regions within the 15 European Union member states which have per capita wealth below 75% of the EU average.

The yardstick decides eligibility for handouts from the EU's regional aid programme in its most sensitive "objective one" category, the largest slice of the aid cake.

But Bradford Council leader John Ryan said that poor areas of Bradford which received Objective Two funding were also under threat in the Euro shake-up.

He said: "It is vital that this funding is retained so we can provide the training needed to combat high levels of unemployment in the areas of the district which are helped."

Bradford receives large amounts of Objective Two funding for Shipley East, Bowling, Bradford Moor, Little Horton, Toller, Tong, Undercliffe, University and Odsal -- where regeneration and job schemes are taking place.

Chairman of the regneration committee Dave Green said that the EU wanted to extend and bring in Eastern Europe. He added: "Most people would welcome the expansion but we need to ensure that local people are protected. We are lobbying through the EU and other channels."

Under the European plans unveiled today, both Northern Ireland the Highlands and Islands of Scotland lose their "objective one" status. For the first time South Yorkshire slips into the "most deprived" category, with a wealth rating of only 72% per head.

The new aid programme announced today is the biggest shake-up in EU funding priorities since Britain joined 25 years ago. It sets the qualifying criteria for receiving multi-billion pound handouts in three categories covering areas of high unemployment, industrial decline, and urban and rural regeneration.

"Objective one" is considered the most important category - ironically triggering a race by member states to outdo each other in the deprivation stakes to qualify for a fund which in the last five years generated £1.5 billion for Northern Ireland, Mersey-side and the Highlands and Islands.

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