24/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 24 January, the MEPs of the committee on regional development (REGI) adopted (33 votes in favour, 1 against and 3 abstentions) a resolution by Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE, Bulgaria) calling on the European Commission to present a plan to speed up cohesion in the first quarter of 2017. They also call on the Commission and the member states to ensure that "e-cohesion" is fully up and running as soon as possible, in order to allow a prompt adjustment of the payment plan in line with developments on the ground. The Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu, has previously voiced her concerns at the impact of the delay in the implementation of the structural and investment funds on negotiations on the future of the cohesion policy post-2020 (see EUROPE 11626). (PH)