Pools voorzitterschap organiseert conferentie over de toekomst van het regionaal beleid (en)
The role of cohesion policy in the implementation of the EU’s Europe 2020 strategy was one of the topics of the meeting held on 24th and 25th November.
The Polish Presidency’s most important events pertaining to cohesion policy have taken place in Poznan. The informal meeting of ministers responsible for EU cohesion policy, territorial and urban development was accompanied by the conference: ‘Integrated approach to development - a key to smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe’. The issues discussed during the conference provided the ideal introduction to the discussion held in the course of the ministerial meeting.
During the meeting, representatives of European institutions as well as the scientific and business communities presented their visions and ideas concerning the future of Europe. They spoke about the driving forces of European development in the forthcoming decade and the role of the UE and the Europe 2020 strategy in dealing with global challenges. The event was intended to strengthen strategic thinking and an integrated approach to the decision-making ensuring a better future for our continent. In view of the economic and social challenges we face, it is necessary to effectively utilise European potential. Politicians and experts in various fields and from different countries discussed how to go about it.
‘Today’s conference is simultaneously the beginning of an informal meeting of ministers. This is an example of the integrated approach in practice,’ explained Minister of Regional Development Elzbieta Bienkowska. ‘The integrated approach to development is our answer to both the present and future challenges we face. It is the sine qua non for the development of Europe. It will allow the continent to overcome the crisis and to become an active player who confidently competes on the global market and develops in accordance with the objectives formulated in the Europe 2020 strategy.
Minister Bienkowska added that during the Polish Presidency the key objectives included the strengthening of cohesion-policy attributes by means of a territorial approach to development and orientating this policy towards effects. These issues became the key element of the agenda for working groups of the Member States and as well as the Council’s and committee working groups.
In her speech, the President of the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament, Danuta Hübner i emphasised that further integration and growth is the only way for Europe. A similar view was expressed by the President of the European Economic and Social Committee Staffan Nilsson who also attended the conference.
The outstanding scholar and scientist Professor Richard Florida from the University of Toronto was the keynote speaker at the conference. He is the author of the creative class concept and the question of location in shaping development policy.
During the panel entitled 'From concept to implementation - towards integrated policies', representatives of the scientific and business communities as well as social organisations and decision makers discussed the latest trends in the field of development describing the best methods of achieving a smart, sustainable and inclusive Europe. During a political debate in the final part of the conference, ministers and EU Commissioners considered some practical methods of encouraging the integrated approach. ‘Despite difficult budgetary conditions, it is necessary to invest in development and growth in order to achieve that goal. It is also necessary to link cohesion policy to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy and to adjust financial activities to development potentials and challenges of our regions, towns, rural areas and other territories,’ concluded Minister Elzbieta Bienkowska.
The informal meeting of ministers responsible for EU cohesion policy (regional policy), territorial and urban development took place on 25th November. This was the most important event organised by the Polish EU Presidency in the realm of cohesion policy. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Regional Development Elzbieta Bienkowska.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss issues concerning cohesion policy for the years 2014-2020 on the basis of the new legislative proposals presented by the European Commission on 6th October2011. A wide circle of ministers met to discuss solutions to strengthen the territorial and urban dimension of the cohesion policy, including a road map for strengthening and promoting the integrated territorial approach on the basis of the EU Territorial Agenda 2020.
During the meeting, Minister of Regional Development Elzbieta Bienkowska presented conclusions of the Polish Presidency concerning the territorial dimension of EU policies and the future of cohesion policy, which summarised an extensive debate by Member States under way since the beginning of July 2011. The purpose of the debate was to search for solutions strengthening the effectiveness of cohesion policy and better reflecting the specific needs of different territories and towns.