Brussels, 05/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Having received no objections from the MEPs, the delegated act on the “code of conduct on partnership”, which is part of the reform of cohesion policy, may be considered to have been adopted by the European Parliament. The Committee of the Regions is putting pressure on the Council to ensure that the non-objection procedure is concluded quickly, within the two months provided.
The code of conduct is a vital pillar of the reform of cohesion policy implemented for the programming period 2014-2020, as it gives the beneficiaries of the European structural funds guidelines to establish their investment strategies, working together with the various levels of authorities and stakeholders. From the opening of the plenary session on Monday 3 January, the MEPs had one day to oppose the recommendations for the adoption of this delegated act proposed by the European Commission in early January. However, no MEPs raised any objections within this deadline. The recommendations had been transmitted by the parliamentary committees on transport and regional development (see EUROPE 10991). This swift adoption by the non-objection method may allow this regulation to enter into force quickly, if the Council shows as much enthusiasm for it. However, the subject is to be discussed at a working group on Thursday 6 February, where some delegations could reopen discussions on various provisions. This is the concern of the Committee of the Regions, whose President Ramon Valcarcel called on the Council to adopt the code of conduct swiftly and to avoid any delay, “to ensure that the operational programmes can be finalised under a legal framework which is certain”. Indeed, the drafting of the investment plans under the 2014-2020 policy is already underway in the absence of any partnership rules. Valcárcel also stressed that the member states must take due account of the role of the regional and local authorities in their application of the principle of partnership and in interpreting the various rules. (MD/transl.fl)