Lidstaten richten zich op resultaten en groei cohesiebeleid (en)

Member States want to make the post-2013 cohesion policy result-oriented and consistent with the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy. So, they expect the European Commission primarily to specify target areas and to develop efficient means of measurement. At the informal meeting in Gödöllo, on 20 May 2011, the ministers responsible for cohesion policy had a last chance to express their views on the Commission’s draft proposal, which is due to be published in June.

The negotiations conducted by the Hungarian Presidency have made it clear that the principles guiding cohesion policy will include thematic concentration and a result-oriented approach in the future, Minister for National Development Tamás Fellegi said in his opening speech.

Earlier, Mr Fellegi told eu2011.hu that the results have received greater publicity recently, due to the economic crisis. Net contributor Member States, exerted a lot pressure for the available resources to be used to strengthen Europe’s economic growth instead of on the cohesion policy. Accordingly, the current debate also laid great emphasis on the EU’s ambition to establish a tighter link between its cohesion policy and the growth for stimulating Europe 2020 Strategy. “We should also bear in mind that cohesion policy has its own goals, the first being inclusion,” the Minister explained.

Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Social Solidarity, László Andor also said at the informal meeting in Gödöllo, that it is vital to establish a tight link between Europe 2020 Strategy and the cohesion policy.

Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn pointed out that the achievement of results will take more than a connection of goals and means. There is also a need for a result-oriented policy. “We should build mechanisms that permit the measurement of results and allow for adjustments to be made,” the Commissioner stressed. He added that Member States should strive to set quantifiable objectives.

Commission: to remove barriers to efficient functioning

Mr Fellegi confirmed that the result-oriented approach seems appropriate for Member States and emphasised the importance of conditionality. The latter refers to the 5th Cohesion Report where certain sets of criteria would be laid down in the Commission’s future development; and investment partnership agreements, and in operative programs. The minister urged for an agreement to be made on the details and the prevention of further administrative burdens, he said.

The biggest debate was touched off precisely by the definition of details as certain Member States voiced their concerns over the principle of conditionality. Mr Hahn called the objections ungrounded and added that, “I wish we had called the method a success factor.” In his view, conditionality means at the beginning of the new cohesion period, the EU’s joint action should be to identify and to remove the obstacles to efficient functioning, as soon as possible. He added, “I am convinced that a prudent use of this means will not impose another administrative burden; instead, it will promote the reduction of administration.”

László Andor made it clear that the Commission cannot imagine the conditionality of EU funds as being unfair or counterproductive..

Positive incentives needed

Member States confirmed that they would only support the application of positive incentives. A case in point mentioned by Johannes Hahn, was on the performance reserve. This means that a portion of the cohesion budget would be distributed according to periodical evaluations. The Commissioner clearly stated that, the Commission would not reward the best, but those that have done well as opposed to their own initial situation would benefit.

The Hungarian Presidency put the proposals of the European Commission’s 5th Cohesion Report on the agenda of several professional and civil forums. At its session held on 21 February, the General Affairs Council laid down that the Union will continue its efforts for harmonious development, through cohesion policy as its primary means.

Member States used the informal meeting in Gödöllo as their last opportunity to share their ideas with the Commission, within the Council’s framework. The Commission is expected to present its proposal on the future of the post-2013 cohesion policy in June. A detailed debate on the budget implications of the policy will start subsequently, in the second half of 2011, under the Polish Presidency.