Brussels, 11/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - All regions of the EU should be able to benefit from the European cohesion funds (regional policy) according to the European Parliament's special committee on the policy challenges and budget resources for a sustainable European Union post-2013 during its debate on Thursday 10 February about the EU's budget in the long-term (post 2013). This was chaired by Jutta Haug (S&D, Germany) and was with EU Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn and EU Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Lázsló Andor.
Both commissioners said that their budgets would remain at about the current level but admitted that there was room for better spending coordination. The meeting will be used to draft a report on the EU's long-term budget that is due to be unveiled in June ahead of the European Commission's publication of its official draft budget.
“The majority opinion in the policy challenges committee is that we should keep the financing at at least the same level as in this multiannual financial framework. It is also necessary that the cohesion policy covers all regions. (…) Even richer countries, like Sweden and Finland, have regions with great needs”, said rapporteur Salvador Garriga Polledo (EPP, Spain) commenting on the initial discussion with Commissioner Johannes Hahn.
Salvador Garriga Polledo added that the cohesion policy must not be cut across the board like the main budget, but should be seen as a tangible way of achieving the EU 2020 strategy by boosting growth and job creation. Regional policy is not a social policy but rather the most proactive economic factor for achieving the EU's growth targets for all regions and all Europeans.
“What now?” asked Johannes Hahn, answering that people have to realise that the cohesion policy budget is not a simple subsidy but funding leading to projects and many cohesion policy projects go on to generate income. In other words, people want a return-on-investment so that there can be new investment and a positive snowball effect.
A press release points out that “While some MEPs stressed the need to maintain or even increase the cohesion budget, given its important role in enhancing competitiveness, several also pointed out that there is currently growing pressure, mainly from the member states but also with some political groups in the European Parliament, to make substantial cuts in the EU budget.”
Other MEPs wanted all EU regions to be eligible for the cohesion funds, although to varying extents. The chair of the EP's Regional Development Committee, Danuta Hübner (EPP, Poland), said in this connection that there should not be any blank spaces on the EU map due to lack of competitiveness.
Cohesion policy-EU 2020. On how the EU cohesion policy meshes with the EU 2020 strategy, Johannes Hahn and the MEPs agreed that the EU cannot delay in implementing the strategy and wait until the next financial framework takes effect.
The commissioner said he was planning a mid-term review for the next budget period in which the Commission would allocate additional funding to regions and projects whose performance exceeds expectations in terms of achieving the EU 2020 strategy targets.
Integration of the Roma and unemployed youngsters. Several MEPs were critical about the European Social Fund's (ESF) failure to help integrate Roma. Lázsló Andor said it was possible to remedy this partially by simplifying the procedures and explaining better how the ESF operates and can be used to help Roma and immigrants.
Regional strategies are needed here, noted Andor. Other MEPs highlighted the need for a change in the way the ESF operates because in recent years, it has not been possible to help long-term unemployed youngsters.
Better funding coordination, including EGF. Most MEPs called for better funding coordination to avoid overlaps between, for example, the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) and other funds. Andor said his “first choice would be to keep the EGF as a separate fund after 2013” but agreed that better coordination was necessary and “he was open to other possible solutions”. (G.B./transl.fl)