Brussels, 14/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - The negotiating team on reform of cohesion policy got round the table once again on Monday 14 October to try to reach an agreement by the evening. Once again, macroeconomic conditionality will be discussed but there is room for hope that an agreement will be thrashed out at this meeting. A further technical trilogue is scheduled in the morning of Tuesday 15 October.
A source close to the matter in the European Commission was optimistic about finding agreement at this meeting. We can expect good result, the source said a few hours before the meeting started, stating that everything is in place. To appease the European Parliament, which has always opposed conditionality, safeguards have been put in place on the periods that can be covered by suspension of funding, and further information brought on what is to be done in the event of suspension at the end of a period. More information was also submitted on equality of treatment for member states. At this point, priority is still given to suspension of commitments but suspension of payments remains on the table, said the source. It is still the role of the Parliament that is creating the tension in negotiations but there is a chance that the Parliament will not be excluded, the same source stated.
Very little time remains for agreement to be reached on the reform and to find a compromise on a package which picks up the political issues pending, including macroeconomic conditionality, the performance reserve, co-financing levels and pre-financing. These issues, however, are thought to have been settled. (MD/transl.fl)