Brussels, 12/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The amount allocated to cohesion in the next EU budget, as adopted by the heads of state and/or government, is of concern to the proponents of that policy. Danuta Hübner, who chairs the parliamentary committee on regional development, as well as Michèle Sabban, at the head of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), discussed the decision reached by the summit on 7 and 8 February.
Both protested at the loss of around 8.5% in funding for Cohesion Policy in 2014-2020, compared to the current multiannual financial framework (MFF). This, as Hübner pointed out, is “despite the persistent demands of the European Parliament that the current level of funding of Cohesion Policy should be at least maintained”.
The AER, speaking through its president, Michèle Sabban, says: “Cohesion Policy is the armed wing of growth policy at European level. However, the European Council has chosen through this agreement not to strengthen but to remove it!” The assembly goes on to explain that “this cut will have a direct impact on the territories to which European funds bring a breath of fresh air, allowing them to successfully carry out economic and social actions that could not have been implemented otherwise”. Hübner shares this view and states that, henceforth, it will be necessary to “do more with less”.
Nonetheless, Hübner recognises that an agreement on the Union's budget, and that of Cohesion Policy, was necessary and long awaited. It at least has the merit of conserving the Cohesion Policy structure and continues to focus on certain priorities, she said.
Hüber sounded a note of caution, however. She said talks with the European Parliament will be gruelling, not just because of the generalised cuts but also because the “conclusions of the European Council do not dissipate the worries regarding the position of the European Council on fundamental issues which pertain exclusively to the legislative procedures aiming at the adoption of the Cohesion Policy legislative package for 2014-2020”. Such is the case for macro-economic conditionality or the performance reserve in particular (see EUROPE10783). Once again, Hübner underlined that decisions must be taken in this respect by the Council on an equal footing with the European Parliament and in line with co-decision procedure.
Finally, Hübner said she is ready and waiting for guidelines on EU aid to the regions, that are being prepared by the Commission but which have not yet been presented. “It is equally necessary to have a clear picture on the possible impact of such guidelines as far as its interactions with the Cohesion Policy legislative package are concerned”, she opined. (MD/transl.jl)