On Tuesday 9 May, as part of the reflection process launched by the President of the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker, on the future of the European Union, the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) published a political declaration on what scenario they would prefer.
This declaration primarily targets the European Commission, European Parliament and member states, explained the president of the CPMR, Vasco Cordeiro, to a press briefing meeting on this occasion. It includes the major features of the main guidelines mapping out the work of the members of the organisation over the next few months. It is based around three major areas: strengthening democratic participation; long-term investment, particularly through cohesion policy and relations with neighbouring countries, explained Mr Cordeiro.
The most political point involves the democratisation of the European decision-making process, particularly in this present climate of mounting populism and Brexit, he explained, which he said was a symptom of the “increasing frustration” of European citizens. He believes there is only one solution, getting European citizens more involved. Mr Cordeiro hammered home the fact that this kind of involvement would obviously require an enhanced role of the regions in the decision-making process, which would therefore become "more transparent, more participatory and more legitimate”.
The discussions have only just begun and no concrete proposal has been decided at a political level at the CPMR. The organisation’s Secretary-General, Eleni Marianou, however, suggested that they open up the Council meetings, for example. The President, however, advised caution and highlighted the need for “formal and informal” mechanisms that included the local and regional authorities.
Manifesto for beginning of 2019. The discussions that began in February are expected to continue over the next few months. We have been informed that provisional conclusions are expected to be presented during the General assembly in October. This will follow a possible meeting between the negotiator in Chief for the Union on Brexit, Michel Barnier. Objective: to present a manifesto in the next 18 months, by March 2019, before the European elections. Ms Marianou explained to EUROPE that this deadline was not excessive because the question of the future of the Union would be the major priority of the future Commission and the next European Parliament. She explained that, “the CPMR we’ll have other opportunities for discussing the multiannual financial framework and the future of cohesion policy within the timeframe corresponding to European decision-making”.
Commission will not be bold enough. In reply to EUROPE, the President said that the five scenarios presented by Jean-Claude Juncker, were “useful” but that he would have preferred a “bolder” approach. Mr Cordeiro would have liked the Commission to have at least taken a position on one of these scenarios. Despite EUROPE’s insistence, he did not want to take a position in favour of any of the five scenarios either.
This is an important question, given that several scenarios are causing the Committee of the Regions some concern, particularly scenario 4, which clearly mentions the sidelining of cohesion policy (see EUROPE 11738). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)