Est. 3min 30-06-2006 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Commissioner Danuta Hübner and Former Commission President Jacques Delors discussed the future challenges of the cohesion policy at a conference organised by the Socialist Group in the EP Wary of preserving the solidarity component of the future cohesion policy, the PSE on 28 and 29 June invited EU and regional stakeholders to exchange views on the controversial reform that is going to shape structural funds’ programmes as of January 2007. The Cohesion policy as a “European plus value” A founding father of the regional policy, Jacques Delors reminded the audience of its spirit – namely, to balance market liberalisation and competition policies by cooperation and redistribution. On top of economic benefits, he also stressed the contribution of the cohesion policy to the diffusion of European citizenship thanks to the “partnership” principle. According to the former Commission President (1985-1995), the EU more than ever needs an ambitious cohesion policy to take up today’s threefold challenge – demography, knowledge economy globalisation. Especially because of its leveraging effect onto other EU policies concerning infrastructure, mobility, environment, energy, research and education. Jacques Delors praised the cohesion policy as the main instrument for fighting against the intergovernmental revival in EU policy-making and inter-state competition. New Community Strategic Priorities for Cohesion 2007-2013 Commissioner Danuta Hübner depicted the future cohesion policy as “a key delivery instrument” that for the first time “frames notions of competitiveness and cohesion in the same context.” She insisted on the Lisbon goals, such as innovation, of which many factors are rooted at regional level. Constanze Krehl MEP (PSE Coordinator for regional policy) presented the EP input in the new financial and policy package, though airing social-democrat concerns on the insufficiency of funds allocated to cohesion as well as on a series of unresolved issues such as: policy responses to firms’ delocalisations, the proposals for a globalisation adjustment fund and greater transparency of invested EU money. Structural Funds for a European Social Model Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (PES Party President) echoed Jacques Delors on the need to combat social and fiscal competition between member states, the first casualty of which will be the regions. Cohesion policy is a powerful weapon in that fight, as are “strong welfare states,” growth and job policies, education and “genuine social dialogue, also at local level.” Read more with Euractiv Industry, commission and member states take stock of biotech progress According to the EU's biotech strategy review, biotech companies lack risk capital and member states' regulatory systems remain disparate. NGOs denounce lack of transparency in the review process. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions Members of the PSE group questioned the "lisbonisation" of the cohesion policy, which they do not think is the most appropriate method to avoid a dual Europe in terms of socio-economic development. The question of already allocated and unused funds was also raised, with calls onto the Commission for a "recycling" option. Although such "recycling" has been definitely ruled out by the European Council, Commissioner Hübner emphasised the existence of flexibility tools in the future package, such as the "N+3" rule (according to which member states will still have three years after the expiration of the 2000-2006 period to use their current share of EU funds). In a context of EU identity crisis, Sir Albert Bore (Vice President of the Committee of Regions) regretted that member states' governments do not sufficiently inform the citizens of the "added value" of the EU cohesion policy. He also urged stakeholders to already start preparing for 2009, as the compromise on the 2007-2013 financial perspectives will be brought back to the negotiations table. The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) deplored that, in the future cohesion policy package, the concept of "territorial cohesion" got diluted in a broader "territorial dimension," which could prove detrimental to the most remote European regions. The representatives of montagnous regions (Association Nationale des Elus de la Montagne) expressed similar criticism. BackgroundSince cohesion policy was enshrined in the Treaties with the adoption of the Single European Act (1986), it has been through major changes. The accession of ten new member states in 2004 exacerbated the economic and social disparities across the Union. To face this challenge the cohesion policy has been significantly overhauled. Consequently, the fourth generation of structural funds programmes (2007-2013) will respond to three new objectives (Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment, Territorial co-operation), and will follow a more strategic approach to the “partnership” principle – that is, the articulation of European, national and local levels of governance - that leads the whole implementation procedure. The 2007-2013 Financial Perspectives allocated €307.6 billion to the Cohesion policy. 81.7% of that amount will serve the Convergence objective (mostly the ten new member states), 15.8% will go to regions eligible under the Competitiveness objective, and 2.44% will remain for European Territorial Cooperation. Timeline 3rd and 4th quarter of 2006: member states and regions to propose National Strategic Reference Frameworks and Operational Programmes to be accepted by the Commission before implementation 2007: start of programmes Further ReadingEuropean Union DG Regio:2007-2013: Preparing the new generation of Structural Funds programmes (homepage) DG Regio:Fourth progress report on economic and social cohesion(12 June 2006) DG Regio:Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs: Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013(6 July 2005) DG Regio:New cohesion policy initiatives JASPERS, JEREMIE and JESSICA DG Regio:Proposals for the new structural funds regulations for the period 2007-2013(July 2004) Council:Financial Perspective 2007-2013(19 Dec. 2005) Commission:Growth and Jobs agenda - working together for Europe’s future (homepage) Regions Council of European Municipalities and Regions:Policy positions on Regional Policy Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions:Opinion of the Political Bureau:"The Territorial Dimension of Community Strategic Guidelines- A Model for 2007 and post- 2013"(5 May 2006)
