Debat cohesiebeleid na 2013 (en)

Should EU cohesion policy target all regions, or just the poorest? Should it be funded from a central EU budget, or "renationalised" to Member States? Should it build infrastructure, foster innovation, or both?

These were among the issues debated at joint meeting of the European Parliament's Regional Development Committee (REGI), the Committee of the Regions' Territorial Cohesion Commission (COTER) and 700 regional and local representatives from across Europe in Brussels for the Regions and Cities "Open Days" on 7 October.

This joint meeting, chaired by MEP Jan Olbrycht (EPP-ED, PL) and COTER chair Dr Michael Schneider (EPP, DE) was the first opportunity to involve stakeholders directly in a joint discussion of cohesion policy after 2013.

Cohesion for all regions - or just the poorest?

"EU regional policy matters not only to regions, but also to Member States and the Union, because it is a driver for solidarity, which benefits everyone", noted Dr Schneider, stressing the need to continue supporting "transitional" regions (75-90% of EU average GDP), until they can stand on their own two feet.

"Solidarity is a two-way street", agreed MEP Constanze Angela Krehl (PES, DE), affirming that funding only the poorest regions would unbalance cohesion policy as a whole. Ms Khrehl urged the Regional Development Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the Commission and the Council to start sooner on legislative preparations for post-2013 cohesion policy, because "disbursing funding one or two years after the fact is untenable".

"It's good that we are starting now" agreed German Green MEP Elisabeth Schroedter - the single market may generate profits, but they do not "trickle down" evenly, and social divisions are evident even in wealthy regions, she said. "Cohesion is the EU's cement, and without it, the EU will crumble away", she warned, stressing that the best projects hatched in the regions should be co-funded by the EU, to help lagging regions to catch up.

MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij (EPP-ED, NL), stressed that Europe is a plurality which can create added value by helping regions to learn from each other.

Dr Schneider also stressed the need for more partnership among stakeholders, to strike the right balance between achieving EU aims and freedom to define projects and policies at regional level. "A top-down approach would not deliver this", he said, "Because it could not harness regional creativity".

Large EU budget - or renationalise?

Can the structural funds' share of the EU budget - currently 36% - be guaranteed after 2013? asked Jean-Marie Beaupuy (ALDE, FR). His own reply was "Yes - provided we can prove it was well spent". Mr Beaupuy called on the Commission to ensure that post-2013 regional policy guidelines provide for new forms of governance to help small and medium-sized enterprises, and called on it to set up an "Erasmus" style programme for public officials, to build regional policy expertise.

Infrastructure, innovation, or both?

"No-one would dispute that cohesion policy has worked for regions lagging behind", said CoR Vice-President Sir Albert Bore, but "the jury is still out" on its success in furthering the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas. "What we need is a revamped cohesion policy that brings together economic and social policies" at macro and micro levels, he said, urging participants to think about seven year strategic aims, how to enhance the visibility of the structural funds' value-added, and how to ensure that EU and national policies are mutually consistent.

Indicators

Dr Schneider took the view that GDP should continue to be the key criterion for determining aid, but where appropriate, it could be accompanied by "content criteria, such as competitiveness and job creation.

Defining territorial cohesion

"Without a definition of territorial cohesion, we shall still be arguing 5 years hence", said Ms Krehl, to general assent. CoR rapporteur Jean-Yves Le Drian (PES, FR) suggested that it might include at least two concepts: first, that of equitable access for citizens to education, health and employment, and second, that every territory needs capital to enable it to harness its own potential. Mr Le Drian also suggested evaluating "the cost of non-cohesion".

Visit the OPEN DAYS website

For more information, please contact:

Athénais Cazalis de Fondouce

+32 0)2 282 24 47

+32 (0)2 282 20 85

Kohl-Wachter Renate

+32 (0)2 282 23 57

+32 (0)2 282 20 85

Andrew BOREHAM

+32 (0)2 284 23 19