Brussels, 30/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - European Commission President José Manuel Barroso shares the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) fears about the repercussions of not obtaining an agreement on the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). He discussed this matter with members of the CoR at the opening session of the plenary meeting. CoR members also provided Barroso with their comments regarding his next and final work programme for next year.
The failure of the negotiations on the MFF last week and the calendar for the next round of negotiations were at the centre of the discussions between representatives from the local authorities and Barroso. CoR President Ramón Luis Valcárcel pointed out that, “no one can consider it positive if deadlines are not met and we work on the basis of a temporary budget, which would block any plans for new instruments, which are crucial for the cities and regions engaged in supporting economic recovery”. Barroso also clearly affirmed that he did not support the idea that, “without an agreement, everything can continue on an annual basis”. He is therefore determined to continue negotiations with Herman Van Rompuy, according to the mandate they have been given to obtain an agreement and stated “we are looking at February but we don't have any exact date. This should be at the beginning of 2013, so that we are able to continue with the legislative work on structural programmes and guarantee their entry into force in 2014”.
The vice president of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, who is also the author of the report on the MFF (opinion adopted during the plenary), does not view these delays positively. “Although two thirds of public investment are made by the local and regional authorities and in the majority of cases local and regional investments are underpinned by the European budget, it is clear that we are in danger of paralysing the innovative, greening and reorganising processes of our economy”. The president of the European People's Party at the CoR, Michael Schneider, summed up the situation, “the later we have an agreement on the MFF, the harder it will be to guarantee the continuity of investment”.
The other political leaders also returned to the question of the Commission's work programme for 2013, presented by Barroso. Speaking on behalf of the socialists, Holger Poppenhäger, regretted the absence of a socially ambitious chapter and suggested introducing a social investment package. The Liberals would have liked to have seen greater efforts made in the energy field. (MD/transl.fl)