Regional Policy
Europe’s first marine turbine helps reduce Ouessant Island’s carbon footprint
A marine turbine submerged 55 metres deep in the Fromveur passage, a strait off Western French coast known for its strong current, has produced 15% of the electricity needed by Ouessant Island since mid-October. EURACTIV France reports.
Parliament urges Council to start negotiating on next EU long-term budget
The European Parliament laid down funding priorities for the next long-term EU budget on Tuesday (13 November) and urged the Council to agree on a common position so that talks be completed before next May. But differences still remain about the level of member states' contributions.
Common Borders, Common Solutions: The Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border regional cooperation
The Romania-Bulgaria Cross-Border (RBCB) Cooperation Programme supports the development of eligible border areas, both in Romania and Bulgaria for over 14 years. These programmes aim to create a "bridge" between the two countries in order to support the border regions.
EU must look after regions, even if future funding is cut
European border regions matter and the EU must continue looking after them despite planned cuts for Cohesion policy funding, particularly as some of them remain under-developed, participants at a recent EURACTIV event said, highlighting the example of Romania-Bulgaria cross-border cooperation.
Cohesion Policy and European Semester: Could they have more in common than we think?
Study shows that citizens’ concerns are directly linked to domestic policies, which are consistently the target of EU economic coordination priorities. That is why Cohesion Policy could help the European project, by making it relevant to citizens, writes Katie Cavell.
CPMR chief: Effective solutions to daily challenges are key to get closer to citizens
Only weeks before a European Council meeting in December is to define funding for regional development across Europe beyond 2020, regions are still in the dark about what will be the final decision on the future of Cohesion Policy.
Regions call for inclusive budget after 2020, maritime co-operations at stake
Europe's regions are in urgent need of concrete measures to boost their local economy and their European dimension, stakeholders highlighted during the General Assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) in Madeira, Portugal on Thursday (October 18).
Story-telling is key for Europe
While Cohesion Policy remains a cornerstone of EU's action to boost growth and reduce inequalities in the continent, the policy lacks visibility, writes MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij.
Dependence on European funds worries Portuguese opposition
Portuguese MEPs José Manuel Fernandes (PSD) and Pedro Silva Pereira (PS) agree on the importance of European structural funds in public investment, although the former says it is "worrying" and the latter considers it "strategic". EURACTIV's media partner Lusa reports.
Cohesion Policy delivers: the story told by beneficiaries and stakeholders
All EU regions have benefited from Cohesion Policy, but what has been the added-value of Cohesion Policy on the ground?
Cohesion Policy must work on a people-based approach, stakeholders say
Cohesion Policy is one the most important but still insufficiently known tools for EU integration, stakeholders highlighted during a EURACTIV forum in Brussels on Wednesday (10 October), where they called for a better communication to counter Euroscepticism.
Decentralised cooperation: building bridges for local-to-local development beyond 2020
Decentralised cooperation has been a pillar in international development for the past 10 years but stakeholders fear the new EU long-term budget might threaten the role of local authorities in the field.
EU citizens need a Europe that’s closer to them, says former US ambassador
EU citizens want more Europe, but they want a Europe that works, a former US ambassador to the EU told the closing ceremony of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2018 in Brussels on Thursday (October 11). Europe’s comparative...
Portugal dominates RegioStars Awards with innovation, culture projects
Portugal was the big winner of the RegioStars awards 2018 in Brussels, a project promoting regional innovation, cohesion and culture in the EU, with two awards for its innovation in sustainable industrial technologies and the promotion of cultural heritage.
To implement the SDGs, the EU needs to be consistent
Good news for all the supporters of development policies: city-to-city development cooperation will remain at the heart of the EU’s external action. And localising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a priority supported by the European Union, writes Frédéric Vallier.
Lambertz: ‘To weaken our municipalities, our cities, our regions is to weaken our Union’
The president of the European Committee of the Regions warned on Tuesday (9 October) that Cohesion policy plays an important role in the European Union and should not be cut in the EU's next long-term budget.
Decentralised cooperation: what future for local to local EU’s development policy after 2020?
Decentralised cooperation has allowed to better adapt EU’s cooperation policies to the needs of the people in the field. However, with the new negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework, the role of local authorities in cooperation policies might be at stake.
Mimica: Decentralised cooperation will remain at heart of EU’s external action
With negotiations on the next EU long-term budget about to start, Commissioner Neven Mimica defended the European commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and praised the role local authorities play in international cooperation in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Juncker hits out at ‘stupid populists’
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called on Europe to "stand up" to the far-right during a speech at the opening session of the European Week of Regions and Cities on Monday (8 September).
Palmieri: Final agreement on Cohesion is necessary before European elections
With the European Week of Regions and Cities starting on 8 September, the debate on Cohesion Policy and its future in the EU's long-term budget 2020 is at the forefront. The European Economic and Social Committee will play a determining role in the debate and the final agreement on the proposal.
Better regional cooperation for higher EU absorption rate: the Bulgaria-Romania case
When it comes to European structural funds, one of the main concerns is the capacity of the member states to attract them. Cooperation between public authorities has proven to be a driving factor.
EU cross-border cooperation: working on both sides of the river
Ahead of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the debate on Cohesion policy continues to spark tension inside the Brussels bubble as well as among stakeholders and networks of regions and cities across Europe.
How the EU’s Cohesion Fund can support the circular economy
The EU’s next Cohesion Fund for regional development should prioritise investments into waste management systems focused on prevention, re-use, separate collection and recycling – not on incineration, argues Janek Vahk.