Brussels, 26/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - At best, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU could hope to have reached, by the end of its six-month term of office, a partial general approach on the revision of cohesion policy proposed by the European Commission for the 2014-2020 planning period. At any rate, negotiations depend on the adoption of the EU's multiannual financial framework. The Assembly of European Regions (AER) wanted more information and so asked Stefan Ilcus, chairman of the structural actions working party (SAWP) to fill in the detail at a briefing meeting on Thursday 26 January. According to Ilcus, sensitive issues, such as macro-economic conditionality, partnership contracts and thematic concentration will barely be discussed if at all. Discussions will begin next week, however, on eligibility and financial instruments, with the focus later turning to financial management and control systems. Ilcus did not rule out discussion of compromise texts on ex ante conditions and on performance. The 11 investment priorities are likely also to be discussed over the next six months. Towards the end of the Presidency there could also be debate of thematic concentration (up to 80% of funding is ring-fenced for innovation, competitiveness and energy efficiency in the most developed regions). Thus, more detailed information has been delivered on the Presidency programme when Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen had remained very vague over the Presidency's priorities when he addressed the parliamentary regional development committee the previous day (see EUROPE 10538). (MD/transl.rt)