Regional Policy
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.
Public engagement still lacking in coal regions’ transition, NGOs warn
Public consultation is inadequate in the creation of pathways to transition out of coal-burning in Central and Eastern European (CEE) regions, despite being a requirement for the plans that will unlock the €17.5 billion just transition fund, civil society has warned.
State vs private: Europe’s mismatched transition out of coal
There is a growing disparity in the progress central and eastern Europe's regions have made to transition away from coal, often influenced by how willing the state is to rescue increasingly unviable companies. Some regions are beginning to close polluting mines while others plan to keep them open for decades.
Commission must boost presence in regions to promote just coal transition
The European Commission should make sure its decisions remain in line with its climate targets and keep an eye on the social acceptance of the coal transition, stakeholders in Central and Eastern Europe say.
National politics threatens just transition fund for coal-reliant regions
Domestic politics, bureaucratic turf wars, and prosperous regions resistant to quitting coal remain a serious obstacle to meaningful progress on designing just transition plans, despite the involvement of European Commission-funded consultants, and pressing deadlines.
A just transition? The barriers to central and eastern Europe making the leap from coal
As the EU Green Week kicks off in Brussels, EURACTIV takes a closer look at an essential step towards a net zero emission Europe – the transition away from coal. Armed with the new €17.5 billion-strong Just Transition Fund, the...
Cohesion policy: Uphill battle to halt growing regional and social inequalities
The COVID-19 crisis has increased social inequalities across Europe, from access to education, to work, medical treatment, and housing. The widening gap goes hand in hand with regional disparities, and this dangerous downward spiral is something the EU's cohesion policy aims to put a stop to. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Investing in sparsely populated regions
Investments into remote and sparsely populated regions are an often overlooked area of EU support. EURACTIV travelled to Ličko-Senjska county in central Croatia, a two-hour drive from the capital Zagreb, to explore how EU-funded projects are contributing to improving the...
Regions warn of bottleneck risks, double spending with EU recovery funds
Implementing the EU's €750 billion recovery plan in addition to regular regional spending at European level is likely to prove a challenge, the bloc's politicians admitted at an informal meeting of EU cohesion ministers in Lisbon on Tuesday (18 May).
EU’s outermost regions could be ‘immunological labs’, Portugal says
The far-away European Union territories could become "immunological laboratories" by accelerating and achieving full vaccination of the population there, Portugal's Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarias said on Tuesday (18 May).