Brussels, 12/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a letter to the French minister for agriculture, Bruno Le Maire, French MEPs from the EPP group - Sophie Auconie, Alain Cadec, Maurice Ponga and Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid - expressed their initial comments on the fifth cohesion policy report (EUROPE 10254). A summary of these comments is as follows:
No undermining of cohesion policy. “In coming negotiations, it is essential that the relevance of cohesion policy is not undermined and the resources allocated to it are enough to meet the challenges facing it.
Cohesion policy is an investment policy in harmonious regional EU development. By creating an interim category for the regions between 75% and 90% of Community GDP, as proposed by the European Commission, this policy, as well as being an instrument of solidarity, should become fairer. Eight French regions experiencing difficulty might be affected and benefit from an additional €3 billion compared to the current period.
This solidarity and fairness can be achieved without encroaching on public spending because several European regions leaving the “convergence” objective would allow for estimated savings of €43 billion”.
Reservations about the macro-economic compliance proposal and funding allocations. MEPs considered that, “this measure could prove counter-productive and handicap beneficiaries”. This explains the importance of, “maintaining a transversal, integrated and regional approach for responding to the complex challenges that European regions will have to confront”.
Requests. MEPs are requesting, “implementation of a contract of trust between the Commission and France, in an effort to get rid of unnecessary controls” as well as, “a significant increase in the budget allocated to 'regional cooperation' in order to promote this active and experimental laboratory in European integration, based on its citizens and practical accomplishments”.
In conclusion, the MEPs confirm that, “if France manages to defend a strong and sustainable Common Agricultural Policy and a sound, ambitious and fair regional policy, it will extend the Community ideal, which it has inherited, and will be able to respond to the expectations of both French and European citizens”. (G.B./transl.fl)