Regional Policy
Farmers call for investment to make rural areas ‘worth living in’
Europe needs to address the rural exodus with policies and investments that make farming an attractive career choice. But political uncertainty over the bloc’s agricultural policy is keeping investors away, experts said at an event organised by EURACTIV in Brussels on Tuesday (17 October).
Cohesion funds rank high in Poland’s public investments
Cohesion policy makes up 61.17% of all Polish public investment, one of the highest rates in the EU. It is topped only by Portugal, Croatia and Lithuania, according to a European Commission report that highlighted cohesion funds as a major investment driver in many EU regions.
Trans-Europe Express: What do the regions really want?
A week full of debates and events about European regions and cities is over. Once again –for the 15th subsequent year- more than 6,000 participants around Europe gathered in Brussels to take part in what used to be a loose get-together and is now a well (maybe too well) structured multilevel event with thematic priorities and goals.
City leader: Europe must simplify rules to help cities become more resilient
Europe is moving in the right direction in helping its cities become more resilient and sustainable, but the EU must streamline its myriad regulations and requirements to move the process along, the leader of an international NGO pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation told EURACTIV.com. Michael Berkowitz, the president of 100 Resilient Cities, also said …
Balkan citizens doubt they will ever join EU
Citizens of the Balkan region are highly sceptical that their countries will be joining the EU anytime soon, despite shows of support for European integration, while a quarter do not believe their country will ever join the EU, the Balkan Barometer 2017 survey has shown.
The economic crisis has exacerbated the EU’s regional differences
Despite four decades of a cohesion policy designed to shrink economic gaps between EU regions, differences remain stark and may have been exacerbated by the 2008 economic crisis, it was heard as the European Union presented its seventh 'cohesion report' on Monday (8 October).
Can an ‘EU of the regions’ offer an alternative to Catalan secession?
On Monday, local government officials from across the European Union will converge in Brussels for the ‘European Week of Regions and Cities’. As they meet, they will be well aware of the turmoil taking place in one region in particular - Catalonia.
Give the regions more EU power to save the euro and defeat populism
Elections across Europe show Europe's political parties to be increasingly defined by how nationalistic they are. Confronting this and reinstating progressive politics is essential, and can best be done by giving more power to Europe's regions, urges Giles Merritt.
Bulgaria and Romania seek investors for big infrastructure projects
Bulgaria and Romania are on the lookout for investors in three big regional infrastructure projects, following a joint session of the heads of government on Tuesday (3 October), Bulgarian media reported.
UK regions left ‘hoping’ for funds after Brexit
Britain has guaranteed funding for beneficiaries of EU regional funds until the end of the current EU budget in 2020. But for the leaders of many research, education and employment programmes, life after Brexit is still a source of anxiety.
Rural areas have bad internet access in most member states
Many rural parts of the EU have poor or no broadband internet, even as lawmakers in Brussels discuss new rules to speed up connectivity.
EU enlargement: A six percent target for the Western Balkans
If the Western Balkans are to overcome almost three decades of economic stagnation and crisis, they will need to double their annual growth rates. This will need a fundamental rethink of the EU’s enlargement policy, argue Tobias Flessenkemper and Dušan Reljić.
Mastercard poll: Serbians concerned about underground economy
The shadow economy limits the state's ability to provide public services, according to 2/3rds of Serbians surveyed. 8 out of 10 say it inhibits growth. For a country in which undocumented trade accounts for 30% of its GDP, the concern could not be clearer. EURACTIV.rs reports.
MEPs: European funds for poorer member states must not diminish
Negotiations are beginning on the future of the European budget, which also includes funds financing cohesion policy. Meeting in Strasbourg, MEPs agreed they should not be reduced. Aktuálně reports.
Trans-Europe Express live
Sent out every Friday at noon, TEE gives you an insider's view of the most important coverage from across the Euractiv Media Network, its Media Partners and much more. Read and connect the local to the global in European politics.
‘Brexit’ and ‘future of Europe’ muddle EU’s budget decision-making
Günther Oettinger today (30 May) presented the draft EU budget for 2018, acknowledging decision-making difficulties. He said the next long-term budget should be tabled by next summer, to take into account the Brexit context and the decisions on the future of the Union.
Brexit will harm EU cohesion policy, regions warn
EU cohesion policy will “suffer heavily” during Brexit given the anticipated halting of payments for certain projects until 2020, the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) warned. EURACTIV Greece reports.
Kosovo needs a new beginning
In Kosovo, far too much time has been spent on issues like border demarcation. Delivering peace instead of war is one thing but that is not enough when young people want a good education and their parents want jobs, warns Kosovar politician Kadri Veseli.
CoR president sees ‘enormous opportunity’ in Brexit
Committee of the Regions President Markku Markkula is adamant Brexit is an opportunity to "renew" the European Union, while cities and regions can be the drivers of change. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Greek SMEs vie for center stage in Juncker’s investment plan
The Greek government will try to use the Investment Plan for Europe in order to boost cash-strapped small and medium enterprises. EURACTIV Greece reports. In Greece, so-called “red” loans have exceeded €100 billion, representing 10% of all non-performing loans at EU level (€1.1 trillion). Of these, 68% belong to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). At the …
Commissioners promote more attractive cohesion policy
Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Crețu and Employment Commissioner Marianne Thyssen have submitted several proposals to make cohesion policy more visible and attractive.
Bulgaria risks losing EU funding for research infrastructure modernisation
EXCLUSIVE/ Documents seen by EURACTIV.com show that Bulgaria is set to lose millions of euros in EU funding aimed at modernising the country’s research infrastructure and stimulating its innovation potential, apparently due to its inability to select independent evaluators.
Romanian EU-funded project accused of data protection violations
The Romanian government has been accused of bias in its awarding of EU funding to the country’s intelligence services. The e-Governance project is also facing serious allegations that it violates European and domestic laws on personal data protection.
Commission insists poor-performing regions need structural reforms
The European Commission yesterday (11 April) suggested that regions with a lower level of growth could benefit from greater institutional capacity and structural reforms that could facilitate investment. EURACTIV Spain reports.