Brussels, 31/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Fifth Cohesion Forum started in Brussels on Monday 31 January marking the end of a consultation exercise that began on 12 November 2010 to glean ideas and opinions from the member states, the regions, cities, economic and social stakeholders, civil society organisations, academics and ordinary people on the EU's cohesion policy and its future. The policy has a budget of nearly €350 billion over seven years and funds 455 national and regional development programmes throughout the EU.
The Commission wants the cohesion policy and its funding to reflect the EU 2020 strategy and each member state will therefore have to choose a limited number of investment priorities for EU 2020 domains in order to put the strategy into practice. The best way to do this is to invest in regions and cities, explained Ton van Lierop, spokesperson for EU Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn, at a press conference. He explained that regional funding of cohesion will enable EU 2020 targets to be met and specific figures will be given for each region, country and areas' objectives, including better-performing regions. A number of criteria will have to be met, he expounded, pointing out that the Commission hoped participants at the Cohesion Forum would tell them what they think of cohesion and future prospects for the cohesion policy. The Commission had, of course, already received a range of ideas from its online consultation. The spokesperson said the Commission was continuing to work on draft legislation for the cohesion policy post-2013.
The event was attended by the commissioners who organised it, Johannes Hahn (Regional Policy) and László Andor (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the prime ministers of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, and Poland, Donald Tusk (the two countries holding the EU Presidency this year), and Lithuanian prime minister, Andrius Kubilius.
In this connection, the president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Staffan Nilsson, met Johannes Hahn on 27 January 2011 to discuss reform of the cohesion policy. Nilsson defended the idea of regional partnerships with representatives of organised civil society to ensure effectiveness of the 2014-2010 cohesion policy, a view fully endorsed by Commissioner Hahn.
Some 800 participants from across Europe met in Brussels at the Cohesion Forum, demonstrating the huge interest for the policy, explained José Manuel Barroso in his address. “Solidarity is a fundamental principle of the European Union. Solidarity means directing certain investment towards the weaker amongst us and those who are bearing the brunt of the reforms”, he argued. “The Cohesion Policy is a prime example of a solidarity policy, and one that is enshrined in the Treaties. It helps to alleviate economic, social and territorial inequalities, but it also helps to spread growth and prosperity throughout the whole of the EU. We should not forget that the cohesion policy is an investment policy and a vector of growth for all.” He gave some figures to back this up. From 2000 to 2006, cohesion policy boosted EU25 GDP by 0.7% in 2009. Over the same period, it generated a return on investment of €2-10 for every euro invested. “The cohesion policy is thus a policy we can be proud of, and continue to be proud of, in the future. The cohesion policy is not a policy of the past; it nurtures the future of the European Union. That is why we must renew it”, said José Manuel Barroso. He stressed the importance of multi-level governance: “Europe is not just about Brussels - Europe is at all levels of leadership and citizenship in our continent.”
In the European Commission's Fifth Cohesion Report, published in November 2010 (see EUROPE 10254), it gives figures demonstrating that the cohesion policy boosts growth and prosperity. For example, it led to the creation of 1.4 million new jobs, helped some 34 million unemployed people find work, helped 36 million people improve their skill levels, helped fund 4,700 km of motorway and 1,200 km of high-speed rail track.
After the opening ceremony, José Manuel Barroso chaired the Regions of Excellence prize-giving ceremony. This year's prizes went to Lithuania, Wales (UK) and Brandenburg (Germany). The prize is for regions and countries with outstanding policies, programmes and projects in line with the EU 2020 strategy targets. (G.B./transl.fl)