At an informal ministerial meeting, in Malta on Friday 9 June, devoted exclusively to the future of cohesion policy, the member states once again stressed the need for the post-2020 cohesion policy to cover all regions while at the same time being differentiated.
The Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU, hosting its last informal meeting, presented a discussion paper, seen by EUROPE. Following the European Commission model for the future of Europe, it set out five scenarios for the future of the policy.
The first scenario, “Sustain and enhance”, makes provision for an enhanced, or at least stabilised, budget, paid for by higher contributions from the member states. This particularly optimistic scenario envisages far better implementation of cohesion policy for all regions.
On the other hand, the second scenario, “Maintain and support”, foresees significant budget cuts. Here the Maltese Presidency imagines a cohesion policy that focuses on ex-post evaluations, an approach that would prevent any corrective action, it notes. In this case, not all the regions could be covered by the policy, it adds.
The third scenario, “Prioritise and improve”, also presents significant budget cuts, that could be offset by very strong differentiation, with the financial instruments being strengthened. This is a risky path which could weaken cohesion policy irreversibly, the paper suggests.
Under the fourth scenario, “Refresh and re-start”, too, there is a dramatic cut in the policy budget, with strategic instruments playing a far greater role, along with a much simpler system built around a single regulation. This scenario would provide a coherent framework and create economic governance focusing on certain regions, the Presidency says.
The fifth and final scenario, “Reduction of priorities”, also proposes a cohesion policy operating with a reduced budget. Here, the Presidency considers reducing the number of priorities pursued by the policy and focussing on specific sectors. It also suggests putting in place a single regulation and procedures to speed up procedures. The Presidency opines that this option would benefit the authorities responsible for implementation and also citizens, who would see more quickly the effects of the policy.
With no single scenario being specifically favoured by the member states, the second and third would seem less likely to be able to meet the level of ambition expressed in the meeting.
Commissioner cautious. European Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Creţu focussed on differentiation (planning, reporting system, audits) when she spoke. She highlighted a number of issues, such as the extent of the scope of differentiation and the criteria used.
She wondered about setting thresholds that would make it possible to decide to lower the regulatory requirements for certain regions and member states. She highlighted the importance to this issue of the discussion document on European finances for the next planning period that she intends to present this month.
Creţu also presented her strategy, detailed by EUROPE, for improving cohesion policy in line with the conclusions of the last General Affairs Council. In this strategy, she gives an important role to the Committee of the Regions (see EUROPE 11774).
The Committee of the Regions submitted a letter presenting the “Alliance for Cohesion Policy” (see EUROPE 11793), which embodies the key principles of its opinion on the future of cohesion policy: - greater flexibility; - in-depth revision of the system of management and supervision of structural and investment funds; - better communication of initiatives pursued (see EUROPE 11787).
The next major event on cohesion policy after 2020 will be on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 June, at the 7th Cohesion Forum. (Original Version in French by Pascal Hansens)