About: cohesion fund
Commission sheds some light on cohesion policy reform
The European Commission cleared up some of the details of its proposal to reform cohesion policy in the next EU long-term budget during a second round of discussion with MEPs on Wednesday (21 June).
Commission defends Cohesion-European Semester link, with suspended payments option
The Commission rushed on Wednesday (30 May) to defend its proposal on linking Cohesion Policy programmes with structural reforms in the European Semester, after MEPs and networks of regions and cities voiced concerns about the possible impact on Cohesion’s initial objectives to help less developed regions.
Regions confused by proposed Cohesion reforms
Networks of European regions and cities remain puzzled by the "mixed messages" sent from the presentation of the legislative package for Cohesion on Tuesday (29 May), where they heard Commission proposals to focus more on southern Europe and to apply significant changes in the structure of Cohesion Policy Funds.
MEP Van Nistelrooij: Cohesion is still a cornerstone, despite cuts
With €375 billion in the new budget, cohesion remains a cornerstone of EU policies and the proposed cuts will be compensated with increased national co-financing, said Dutch MEP Lambert Van Nistelrooij (EPP). He also said he was in favour of keeping the decentralised approach of ESF and the current categorisation of the regions.
Minister: EU cohesion policy served Greece well, should be upgraded in future
The EU's cohesion policy supported Greece in its most serious crisis, demonstrating the value of the bloc's second-biggest funding scheme, Greece’s Alternate Economy Minister Alexis Charitsis told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Crețu: Austria and Germany are still recycling Marshall Plan funds
The European cohesion policy can be inspired by the post-World War II Marshall Plan model and achieve by 2023 added value of 3-4 euros for every euro invested in the 2014-2020 period, Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Crețu told EURACTIV Greece in an interview.
Cohesion funds can stop Europe from moving at different speeds
Cross-border and inter-regional cooperation in cohesion and research & development spending is still limited, but very much needed to prevent a multi-speed Europe writes Lambert van Nistelrooij. To unlock Europe's growth opportunities, the MEP calls for smart regional specialisation and an Innovation Pact 2.0.
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).
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.
EU funds still used to subsidise fossil fuels in Eastern member states
The countries of Eastern and Central Europe rarely use their EU funding for energy transition projects, instead using the money to entrench their dependence on fossil fuels. Our partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Ombudsman fears EU’s Cohesion policy breaches fundamental rights
The European Ombudsman has sent a letter to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker with eight proposals to ensure that the EU's €350 billion Structural and Investment Fund does not support member state cohesion programmes which violate fundamental rights.
Report: Italy ‘overzealous’ in reporting EU farm fraud cases
Member states show a mixed record when it comes to reporting irregularities in how EU funds for agriculture and regional policy are being spent. While Italy has been "overzealous" in its reporting, others hardly report any fraud at all, according to a new EU report. EURACTIV France reports.Europe’s competitiveness divide
Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain have a serious structural competitiveness problem, despite the billions of EU taxpayers’ money that these countries received as grants from EU development funds in the past decades, says Martin Bruncko. VideoPromoted content
EU to cut Hungary funds over excessive deficit
The European Commission said on Wednesday that it plans to suspend 495 million euros in Cohesion Funds from Hungary as the country has failed to reduce its deficit. It is the first time Brussels decides to withhold development funds, which are destined to support infrastructure projects in the EU's poorer regions.
Special Report: Policymakers jostle for EU regional funding
Policymakers in the EU institutions, national governments and regional authorities are fighting for control over Europe's future regional policy spending after the European Commission last week tabled budget plans for the post-2013 seven-year period.
Special Report: Brussels, Warsaw make joint case for regional funds
Almost simultaneously, the European Commission and Poland, the country currently holding the EU's rotating presidency, published similar papers highlighting the benefits of cohesion policy for Europe's economic growth.Future cohesion policy: The basis of EU’s competitiveness
Romanian centre-right MEP Petru Constantin Luhan argues that cohesion funds, distributed on the basis of a region's lower GDP per head, should continue to be used to promote solidarity and competitiveness within the EU.
French regions back status quo on EU funding
French regional leaders have urged EU policymakers to maintain cohesion funding at current levels or risk throwing Europe back into recession.
MEP: ‘Europe shows its face through local projects’
The European Commission wants to subsidise regions like eastern Germany, which are less prosperous than average, through a new category of funding. German MEP Markus Pieper (European People's Party), MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament's regional policy committee, told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview why he is not convinced by the idea.
Bulgaria risks losing 20% of EU funds
Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov claimed on Sunday (24 January) that his country could lose up to 20% of its much-needed EU financing due to environmental shortcomings, blaming his political opponents for the problems. EURACTIV's partner in Bulgaria Dnevnik reports.Arts sector drives regional growth in west of Ireland
In the first of our 'project of the month' stories examining regional successes in the EU 27, EURACTIV puts the spotlight on the Leitrim Design House, which with the help of EU cohesion funding is creating a sustainable creative arts and crafts sector in the west of Ireland.
EU regions to get €105 billion for green projects
The European Commission yesterday (9 March) announced it will back job creation by investing an unprecedented €105 billion in green projects under the EU's cohesion policy.
EU funds refocused on competitiveness and social cohesion
Member-state governments are re-focusing the EU's cohesion policy to boost workers' qualifications, education and employability, the Commission said at the conclusion of negotiations on funds allocated for the 2007-2013 period.