Brussels, 13/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Committee of the Regions regrets the fact that no initiative with a bearing on regional development is included on the European Commission's work programme for 2015.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday 12 February, the Committee of the Regions laments the fact that the Commission's priorities “omit reference to specific initiatives in cohesion policy, rural development and environment”. The absence of new proposals on an urban agenda, macro-regional strategies or territorial cohesion come under particular fire in the resolution.
The Committee of the Regions also calls for a territorial impact assessment to be carried out systematically for all new European initiatives, including those withdrawn in the framework of the REFIT programme aiming to reduce the administrative burden.
The European body also stresses the complementarity between the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and the European structural funds, and recommends that the local and regional authorities be involved in selecting the investment projects. It also stresses the need for a broader application of the 'investment clause' and of the flexibility laid down in the Stability and Growth Pact, in order to boost economic growth (see EUROPE 11229).
Addressing the Committee, the Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, stressed that the 'Juncker' investment plan was also designed to help the regional authorities, and that this project should also be accompanied by national and European reforms.
It is worth noting that the Committee of the Regions has called upon the Commission to reconsider withdrawing the package on waste as planned under the work programme. (Marie-Pauline Desset)