Brussels, 08/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - The creation of a new intermediate category of regions that qualify for aid from European funds under cohesion policy, which had split the regional affairs committee, indeed causing division within certain groups in the vote on the report by Markus Pieper (EPP, Germany) (see EUROPE 10387), was passed in the plenary session vote on the Garriga Polledo report (see related article).
This issue brought a number of MEPs to their feet in the debate on the Garriga Polledo report, including Markus Pieper who is against such a move which he sees as a lasting subsidy, which would not go down well with some. To say that there was a broad consensus in favour of the move was just fantasy, Pieper said, responding to comments from German Green MEP Constanze Krehl, whose view was, however, borne out by the vote. Within the EPP itself, others spoke in support of the idea, including Sophie Auconie (France) who argued that the introduction of this new category would be a contribution to ambitious reform of cohesion policy. French Green François Alfonsi, who called for cohesion policy to be enlarged and prolonged, also said that the new category would enhance cohesion between the various regions of the EU, “cohesion on which the very future of Europe depends”. According to Andrea Cozzolino (S&D, Italy), Europe has to meet the challenge that this proposal sets, with the creation of the new category (for regions where GDP is between 75% and 90% of the European average) being accompanied by a safeguard clause. (L.G./transl.rt)