Brussels, 26/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency of the EU will focus on three regional policy and cohesion policy priorities: the future of the Community cohesion policy, making the principle of territorial cohesion an integral part of the EU 2020 strategy, and simplifying cohesion policy rules. Spanish Finance Minister Carlos Ocaña y Perez de Tudela set out the broad thrust for the European Parliament regional development committee, meeting under the chairmanship of Georgios Stavrakakis (S&D, Greece), in Brussels on Monday 25 January. Ocaña said that the above issues would be fully discussed at the informal meeting of ministers with responsibility for regional development in Saragossa on 19 February.
Future of cohesion policy. The structural weaknesses of the EU's regions result indirectly from the regions' economic and social development. The economic and financial crisis has shown that it is with some urgency that structural changes have to be put in place to address developments in globalisation and crisis mechanisms prepared in the event of serious problems which could have repercussions on the regions, Ocaña said, pointing out that divergences between regions could become more pronounced in the coming months. However, he added: “The crisis has provided us with the opportunity to get our economy right. The economic slowdown has had a negative effect on convergence and increased unemployment, among other things, means that regional policy has a role to play. Europe supports convergence, which is a factor in stability,” he stated. The Spanish Presidency says that “cohesion has to be included in the EU 2020 Strategy. It is an instrument that seeks to develop the potential of the regions”. “Investment in research, development, and innovation, without forgetting, for example, energy efficiency has a greater role for cohesion policy. Re-aligning institutional 'capillarity' (decentralisation) and managing it at regional level is also very important,” Ocaña said. He posed a number of questions: (1) amendment of financial resources: what are the allocation criteria among states? (2) cross-border cooperation: how can this be strengthened from the funding and management capability points of view?
Territorial cohesion. Article 3 of the Lisbon Treaty makes territorial cohesion an explicit objective for the future of economic and social cohesion policy, Ocaña pointed out, pledging to work to make sure that it was included in the EU 2020 strategy.
Simplification of rules and procedures relating to cohesion policy. In line with Article 30 of the General Rules on the Structural Funds, the Spanish Presidency will study the Commission document and present its cohesion policy recommendations in June 2010, Ocaña said, and he pledged to make these rules and procedures simpler and to ensure that money spent was more closely related to regional policy objectives.
Debate: everything will get under way at Saragossa
In reply to Lambert Van Nistelrooij (EPP, Netherlands) who was concerned about the EP's role in drafting cohesion policy, Ocaña said that “the EP and the Commission have to work together to strengthen the new rules and procedures”. He said that the lack of a link between the regional and cohesion policies and the Lisbon objectives was a lapse that had to be remedied, and that the matter would be aired in Saragossa. “Is there not going to be discussion between Parliament and Council to agree on simpler procedures so that the funds can get to where they are meant more quickly? Will there be debate in the Council?,” asked Constanze Krehl (PES, Germany). Elisabeth Schroedter (Greens/EFA) made the point, “Will a Council group examine this reform after 2013?” Ocaña replied that the matter was “a priority of the Presidency” and would be on the table for discussion at the informal meeting in Saragossa. Oldrich Vlasak (CRE, Czech Republic) argued that tightening monitoring of recipients of funding must not increase the administrative load. Ocaña said that, for checks made by member states, there had to be sampling rather than an overload of checks. To Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France), who raised the very pertinent issue of social injustice and funding social inclusion, Ocaña replied that “there will not be more money on the table because of the crisis. The resources we have must be used better”. “Why not set up a Western Mediterranean Strategy under the Spanish Presidency?” asked François Alfonsi (Greens/EFA, France), referring to the macro-regions' development of projects. “Transnational cooperation may be a possibility, but financial resources are limited,” answered Ocaña. “Our actions depend on available funding and we have to act better,” he added. He also announced a conference, to be held in May, on the outermost regions and the problems specific to them. (G.B./transl.rt)