Brussels, 17/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - At the COTER (the Committee of the Region's Commission on Territorial Cohesion) in Brussels on Tuesday 16 November, the presidents of the main European, regional and local associations delivered their thoughts on the fifth report on Cohesion for Johannes Hahn.
President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed the importance of the “development contract” so long as the regions were fully involved in the governance mechanisms proposed in the report. The CPMR regretted the link between the payment of structural funds and respect of the Stability and Growth Pact (principle of economic conditionality). One other point merited further attention: the sea. “The particular dynamics of seas and coastal areas are something that is often forgotten,” he stated, expressing his “surprise that there is virtually no reference to the sea in those sections relating to certain policies, such as energy policy, for example”.
President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) Michael Häupl welcomed the increased focus on urban areas but strongly recommended that future cohesion policy be further decentralised and that “the European Commission make a strong local dimension mandatory. This local dimension should include urban and rural areas, all the while strengthening the link between them”.
Chairman of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) taskforce on cohesion policy Thomas Andersson said that, though partnership remains a founding principle, regions are still not involved as full partners. “We continue to insist on the need to establish tripartite contracts, to involve territorial actors at all stages of the definition of programmes. Such a measure would increase ownership on the ground and allow regional policymakers to better integrate European funding into their territorial strategies,” he argued.
Jaroslaw Kochaniak, a member of the Executive Committee of Eurocities, welcomed a text which proposes that greater account be taken of cities in the architecture and application of cohesion policy. (G.B./transl.rt)