Several organisations representing regional and local authorities have asserted their determination to launch an informal “coalition” to defend and improve cohesion policy during the conference organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on Thursday 18 May at the latter’s offices.
We were informed that the event was not characterised by any common statement or joint policy paper setting out shared policy goals. Participants included the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR), Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE) and Eurocities. Their goal was to develop an alliance for defending cohesion policy, particularly its budget, and to help improve this budget for the next financial period.
We were also informed that this is just the beginning. The organisations and participants were eager to take advantage of the dynamics created, particularly with the adoption of a flagship opinion on future cohesion policy at the Committee of the Regions (see EUROPE 11787) and an own initiative report for the committee at the European Parliament (see EUROPE 11791). The initial focus will involve the 7th Cohesion Policy Forum at the end of June, followed by negotiations on this policy over the months that follow.
There will also be discussions regarding implementation of the online platform, as well as the regular organisation of meetings with appropriate actors at local, regional and national levels. No plan has as yet, however, been clearly defined.
The European institutions are beginning to get involved. The CoR is the first European organisation to have decided a position during the plenary. The European Parliament is expected to do so very shortly too. The Council is steadily getting involved in discussions at an informal level. The deadline is approaching fast: the Commission is expected to present a proposal at the end of the year. (Original version in English by Pascal Hansens)