Regional Policy
It’s time for the EU to be closer to people
Giving cities and regions more power in the EU decision making process would help incorporating criticism of the EU more productively and thus be a good strategy against further alienation between the EU and its citizens, argues Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
European mayors eye long-term partnerships with counterparts to rebuild Ukraine
Leaders of European cities and towns are moving to support Ukrainian local and regional authorities through peer to peer schemes as sub-national leaders look to rebuild the war-torn country.
CoR President: Regions must be involved in crisis response
The EU must shrink the gap between its institutions and regional actors to respond to contemporary crises and challenges effectively, Apostolos Tzitzikostas told EURACTIV Slovakia.
EU investment transparency platform leaves anti-graft watchers wanting
The European Commission has presented a new online tool that gives citizens an overview of big structural investment projects backed by the EU, as the next big step in Brussels’ transparency efforts.
EU announces funding sources to support fleeing Ukrainians
The European Commission adopted on Tuesday (8 March) a proposal for Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) that allows EU countries and regions to provide emergency support to people fleeing from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Reshaping cities to speed up post-COVID normality
An increasing number of EU countries have started lifting COVID-related restrictions in a first sign of returning to normality. However, there are doubts as to how ready societies are for a full return to "old normal", after two years of varying and often frustrating public measures.
Commission to extend flexibility of EU aid as disparities persist
The European Commission will extend looser rules introduced at the onset of the pandemic for EU structural funds spending in an effort to help reduce disparities across the bloc, regional policy Commissioner Elisa Ferreira announced on Thursday (10 February).
EU court strikes down Spain’s order to disclose foreign assets to taxman
The European Court of Justice on Thursday (27 January) struck down a regulation in Spain that forces residents to disclose all their foreign assets to the tax service under the threat of heavy fines.
Governments break EU rules, plan cohesion spending without partners
Several European governments are breaking EU rules that require meaningful consultations with local authorities and civil society in planning cohesion spending, stakeholders have complained, while the European Commission says everything is, mostly, in order.
COVID recovery euros slow down EU structural fund planning
As predicted, recovery money planning has maxed out administrative capacity in many member states at the expense of the EU's long-standing structural investment program, which now faces delays.
The Brief, powered by EPRA — A yellow traffic light for fiscal integration
“Generating energy from friction,” “focusing on the joint big picture,” — the parties likely to form Germany’s new government are competing for the blandest metaphors in an effort to signal love, peace, and harmony within the budding three-way alliance.
Slovenia advocates for strong cohesion policy, minister says
Cohesion policy has an important role to play in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, and the Slovenian EU presidency intends to keep it strong, Development and EU Cohesion Policy Minister Zvonko Černač said at a conference in Porto.
EU to fight ‘geography of discontent’ with new vision for rural areas
The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday (30 June) its long-term vision for the EU's rural areas, proposing a rural pact and a rural action plan aimed at making those regions stronger, connected, and prosperous.
Cohesion, recovery funds clash causing headaches for regions
Critics are warning of significant delays in the EU’s cohesion policy spending following the adoption of the bloc’s long-term regional support plan, while stakeholders say more time is needed at the local level to devise spending strategies for recovery aid...
EU Parliament passes €330b regional package that fails on spending controls, say critics
The European Parliament adopted the EU's long-term budget regional support plan at a plenary on Wednesday (23 June). Some EU lawmakers, however, were disappointed at the lack of support for cross-border projects and the lack of ability to monitor spending.
Tensions grow in France over recovery plan cohesion policy clash
Tensions are mounting in France over crossovers between the country's €100 billion plan to recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic and the European Union's cohesion policy, with regions complaining they have not been sufficiently consulted.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Raising awareness on what citizens can do and policy makers should do
“We must be able to count on ambitious political commitment that takes into account local communities’ needs,” writes José Hila Vargas, Mayor of Palma, Balearic Island (Spain). He signs the forward of a publication on Global Citizenship Education just released...
Cohesion Policy Quiz: How much do you know about EU cohesion funds?
As we near the end of EURACTIV’s project “Let’s Meet Cohesion Policy” co-financed by DG REGIO, now is the time to test your knowledge on how the EU supports its regions. Test your knowledge here
Cohesive recovery: where do structural funds fit in?
Cohesion, the EU’s €330 billion investment package, making up about a third of the bloc’s new seven-year budget, will focus on bringing about a smarter, greener and more connected Europe, closer to its citizens by 2027. That’s a tall order...
Lagging German regions may lose out due to rush of EU pandemic recovery money
Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Berlin on Tuesday (22 June), where she delivered the approved German recovery plan, concerns are emerging that the new pot of money may crowd out funding for weak regions and thwart their efforts to catch up with wealthy areas.
Cohesion and recovery funds: Friends or foes?
In this edition of our series on cohesion policy, we are joined by two very special guests European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira and EURACTIV’s Jorge Valero. We take a closer look at how Europe’s historic recovery...
Germany to ‘plug holes’ in budget with EU green transition money, critics say
Germany is set to dispense €40 billion to its regions affected by the country’s planned 2038 coal phase-out. But that number is a lot less grand than it looks, as the programme will swallow EU funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Lack of coal phase-out commitments in Eastern Europe jeopardises just transition
Unambitious coal phase-out policies in central and eastern Europe threaten the just transition in the region and the European Commission should only accept plans that use the just transition fund to develop and diversify local economies for a greener future, writes Alexandru Mustață.