Brussels, 21/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - At the very time that a “new industrial revolution” is taking place, MEPs are calling for de-industrialised zones to be better taken into account. They adopted the draft resolution by Jens Geier (S&D, Germany) on Tuesday 21 May, by 618 to 19, with 36 abstentions.
During the debate on the day preceding the vote, the rapporteur explained that the European Commission's cherished industrial strategy lacked a dimension encompassing regional policy. In his report, he calls on the Commission to develop a number of instruments that link cohesion and structural funds, in an effort to enable former industrial areas to structurally transform themselves and become modern industrial areas. He regretted, however, that funds were often underused by member states and the regions, although the industrial sector was beset by crisis. He is therefore particularly keen on ensuring member states check that former industrial regions benefit from existing national and European funds in a way that provides a boost to this new industrial revolution. The report suggests that local and regional specificities are taken into account so that regional strategies are appropriately adapted and inspired by previous experience where European funding helped regeneration, as was the case in Manchester, Lille, Essen and Bilbao. Gens' resolution also highlights that regional strategies for these industrial zones must take into account the quality of air, water and soil and promote sustainable transport to and from these zones for both goods and people. (MD/transl.fl)