Brussels, 07/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The outermost regions (ORs) are fearful of the EU's reducing the money its pumps in to compensate for their structural disadvantages (mobility deficit, unemployment of close to 25%, etc) recognised in Article 349 of the Treaty. Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn has sought to provide reassurance but convincing the presidents of the Outermost Regions, meeting in their 17th Conference in Martinique on 4 November, however, has proved difficult. The Outermost Regions comprise the Azores, the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Madeira, Martinique, Saint Martin and Reunion, whose president was unable to attend the meeting because of the forest fires raging on the island.
Everything depends on multiannual budget. Commissioner Hahn made no bones about it: given the current economic situation, the sum proposed by the Commission for cohesion policy for the period from 2014 to 2020 could very well fall significantly, depending on the outcome of negotiations of the EU's multiannual financial framework. “Your needs are undeniable, but there are other compelling priorities. And funds are limited because member states understandably want a disciplined budget”, he said. A 40% reduction is a possibility, according to Hahn, in comments reported by AFP. At this stage, proposals on the new cohesion policy, which still have to be approved, continue to guarantee special allocation of money to the ORs in view of the conditions specified in Article 349 of the Treaty. The commissioner gave warning, however, that “the fight isn't over yet. Those who want to see this allocation maintained, let alone increased, will have to make their case robustly to the Council”.
Money is not the answer to everything. Bearing that in mind, Hahn, following a week of visits to the ORs, wants to challenge the received wisdom of the outermost regions dependent on constant injections of European cash to resolve their problems. He told the ORs that “each of you has its own assets and the capacity to develop its unique selling propositions to ensure a more prosperous future”. He said that the proposals for cohesion policy over the period from 2014 to 2020 provide for the highest level of joint funding (85%) for ORs and a doubling of the budget for cooperation with their neighbours compared with the current level. He remained firm, however: “Money alone will not solve all your problems. The structural funds would never be big enough. What EU funds can do is help you to maximise your potential by modernising in traditional sectors and diversifying into new ones”.
Ensuring action and aid. These comments, made in Brussels, were not enough to ease the fears of the ORs, whose president, Serge Letchimy, opening the conference, stated bluntly: “The European Commission cannot reduce the financial aid allocated to the ORs for the period from 2014 to 2020”. President of the Canary Islands Paulino Rivero Bauté, annoyed by the EU's do-nothing approach to these far-distant regions, did not hesitate to say that “Europe will have to bring its actions into line with its fine words. We have often heard that our specificities were recognised by the EU. We have also heard that we were assets for the EU. Today we want action! The Commission has to be consistent with Article 349 of the Treaty!” (MD/transl.rt)