Brussels, 26/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - Johannes Hahn, invited by the European Parliament regional development committee to set out his vision for regional policy on Monday 26 April, was keen to show that investment in the regions was essential to economic recovery, that it was essential to make cohesion policy work for the EU 2020 strategy, and that there had to be greater intelligent, green, sustainable growth. Under the attentive ear of the committee chairwoman and former regional policy commissioner Danuta Hübner, Hahn said, “Regional policy as we see it means that, in the regions, investment must bring results, that all regions develop and that there can be sustainable economic growth for all European citizens”.
The Commissioner called for concentration on a “small number of priorities” and for there to be as much flexibility as possible in implementing programmes in all regions. He said that, for the 2007-2013 period, €230 million have been reserved under the Lisbon strategy for research and development, climate change and “making transport and energy more ecologically sound”. However, ensuring maximum flexibility in implementing programmes, ensuring the strength of the regions, giving them a one-stop shop where the strengths and weaknesses of each can be identified is important in the EU 2020 strategy debate, Hahn said, suggesting that the 3% threshold had to be retained, “and even exceeded, if we want to achieve ambitious targets at national level”.
Achieving a fair cohesion policy, a policy “which is no less important”, “cannot be done with a zero tariff” Hahn said, adding that account had to be taken of budgetary constraints. He launched a call to MEPs to work to make social policy part of regional policy and avoid budgetary fragmentation. In response to MEPs he said:
(1) Funding/mid-term review: He told Constanze Krehl (S&D, Germany) that, after the summer break, a financial decision on the mid-term review would be made. Regional policy was costly, he said, indicating that a “presentation” was being prepared.
(2) Macro-regions: Hahn stressed that the subsidiarity principle had to be applied. “The aim must not be to create a macro-region unless this can solve problems which exist,” he said to Lambert van Nistelrooij (EPP, Netherlands)
(3) Erasmus scheme for regional and local representatives: Why had the Commission decided not to continue with this scheme, asked an MEP. Hahn replied, “There is budgetary issue. The EP put forward a proposal to see how this programme might be pursued. What would be useful, would be an exchange of politicians among the various regional bodies. There has already been a development in the situation since the EU 2020 strategy”. “In my opinion,” another MEP told Hahn,” this scheme is worthwhile. We have to see whether it would be possible to implement it”.
(4) Simplification of rules/Public contracts: To Oldrich Vlasak (ECR, Czech Republic), who asked the Commissioner if he had any information on how the various member states fulfil their market share or whether this task was for the Commission and the EP, Hahn replied that this would have to be discussed with DG Internal Market. “We have already carried out simplification and implementation. I would like, right from the start, projects be built into the preparation and assessment of the markets to ensure implementation in the regions and better performance in future. There had to be a link between objectives and projects. There has to be work with other DGs and European Commissioners”.
(5) Major projects/Environment: If legislation was not transposed, was there Commission approval, wondered Elisabeth Schroedter (Greens/EFA, Germany). “If there is no compliance with European legislation on the environment, nothing can be done. DG Environment is calling for the necessary material conditions to be in place,” Hahn replied.
(6) Must the European Social Fund (ESF) be part of cohesion policy? On this point, Hahn said that “the ESF and the structural funds must be able to work with us”.
(7) Outermost regions (OR)/early payments: “Early payments for these regions. The Lisbon Treaty allows it. specific conditions apply for these regions and account has to be taken of this,” Hahn pointed out. (G.B./transl.rt)