Brussels, 02/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Nothing clear had emerged from the most recent trilogue meeting regarding a vote on cohesion policy reform.
The negotiating team met up for the institutional trilogue on Wednesday 2 October in an attempt to reach a compromise on politically sensitive questions that are still blocking a political agreement on cohesion reform, despite the fact that this should be voted on in the plenary session at the end of October.
As we go to press, nothing had emerged on these discussions but it was obvious that this meeting would not produce an agreement and that a further meeting would need to be organised. A final round of negotiations could take place on Monday 7 October, according to tweets in the afternoon from the co- rapporteur on the common strategic framework, Lambert Van Nistelrooij (EPP, Netherlands). Macro-economic conditions still appeared to be taking any agreement on other pending points hostage, namely conditions on performance and co-financing and pre-financing rates. According to Van Nistelrooij, the role of the European Parliament in the suspension of funds in the event of macro-economic conditions applying had still not been worked out. Nonetheless, according to sources close to the dossier, there did seem to be a greater conciliation of views in sight. It is imperative that an agreement it is reached by 10 October, in view of a vote at the regional development committee on 14 October. (MD/trans.fl).