Cutting red tape, boosting administrative capacity and improving coordination are the three big issues that Greece must focus on to make the most of Cohesion Policy, said Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Crețu at the Greek parliament’s committee on European and regional affairs on Wednesday 5 April.
The Commissioner says it is crucial to hugely simplify procedures for expropriation. When it comes to administrative capacity, the Commissioner said all players, particularly the regions, local authorities and fund beneficiaries, should be prepared to manage complex projects. Finally, in terms of coordination, the Commissioner called for the Greek government, regional governors, mayors and social partners to work together to accelerate implementation of current programmes.
Summing up, the Commissioner said that European funds were not just a question for Brussels, as everyone is responsible for proper implementation of Cohesion Policy since everyone’s future is at stake.
Commissioner Crețu’s gaze is fixed on the talks to come on the future of the Cohesion Policy. Back in September, she expressed concern about the slow pace of implementation of Operational Programmes, which could have a negative impact on the outcome of the negotiations (see EUROPE 11626). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)