Poland has adopted its positions on the future of cohesion policy and, in a detailed document a copy of which has been obtained by EUROPE, reviews all the important issues currently under debate: conditions attached to the allocation of cohesion funding, simplification of the new regulatory framework, and monitoring and auditing system, financial instruments and the territorial dimension of the policy.
For Poland, the new cohesion policy must have greater flexibility, be modernised in line with new emerging challenges at focus on results achieved rather than compliance with procedures. It must remain the principal investment policy for increasing convergence among the member states before insisting upon a territorial approach and multilevel management.
The budget allocated at EU level must be long-term, focused on investment and cover all regions. Per capita GDP must remain the main indicator in the allocation of funding to member states.
Main objectives of cohesion policy. According to Poland, the main objectives of the new cohesion policy should be: - boosting innovation and re-industrialisation through implementation of smart specialisation strategies; - redressing the disparities between regions; - developing the circular economy; - contributing to environmental policy; - offsetting demographic changes, including ageing societies; - addressing the challenge of migration, also from the east; - investing in human capital, and in education and training systems; - tackling infrastructural deficiencies which limit the potential of the single market.
Member states should choose their priority from a common European list of priorities, Poland suggests.
Incentives for structural reform. Warsaw believes that the European semester budgetary process is too short and at evaluations come too early. It believes that the country-by-country recommendations must be “realistic” and should be determined as part of a joint, in-depth dialogue between the European Commission and the member state concerned.
Poland is against the creation of reserves ringfenced for implementation of structural reforms would say that cohesion policy budget. It believes that the link between cohesion policy and structural reforms must be made on the basis of incentives rather than sanctions. Above all, by-country opposes any linkage of the European budget and country-by-country recommendations, this being a matter solely for the member state.
Simplification, rationalisation and differentiated approach. The proposals made by Poland are many. Among the most important are: - simplification and softening of the various territorial instruments, with extension of their scope depending on the various types of territory defined in future according to socio-economic indicators; - support for the preparation of macro-regional strategies (new strategy for the Carpathian region) with dedicated funding; - maintaining the principles of partnership and shared management; - “unwavering” support for and differentiated approach based on the institutional system of the member state, the level of European funding allocated calculated on the basis of territory and population, and compliance with ex ante conditions; - putting in place a raft of single rules, less detailed and with fewer guidelines; - creation of a fast track system within the Commission’s directorates-general; - less numerous, more precise and unambiguous ex ante conditions, taking account, nonetheless, of specific regional and national characteristics; - support for the principle of a single audit approach, with a stronger role for member states; - simplification of financial instruments as a complementary tool to cohesion policy, notably in the area of research (see EUROPE 11916); - maintenance of Interreg programmes; - increased harmonisation between the principles of cohesion policy and other European instruments (state aid, public procurement, environmental legislation).
No new conditionality. The document makes no mention of plans to link allocation of structural and investment funds to new conditions related to the rule of law and social convergence (see EUROPE 11736 and 11782).
Poland is concerned that the European Commission’s presentation of proposals on the future of cohesion has been postponed until 2018. Warsaw says that implementation must take place by mid-2019 at the latest.
EUROPE has already detailed the German positions which proposed, inter alia, putting an end to regional categories (see EUROPE 11800). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)