15/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – During a press conference on new European Union Solidarity Fund aid (see other article) held on Thursday 15 February, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Crețu, provided assurances that the Commission scenarios on the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (see EUROPE 11961), “are not the Commission's position. They are illustrations of ideas that are in the public debate… to stimulate the discussions” so that leaders can make informed and swift choices. The Commissioner added that she was in favour of a simplified policy covering all regions, with an improved performance and “clear added European value”. The regions effectively appear strongly opposed to the European Commission scenarios, which appear to involve drastic budget cuts to Cohesion Policy (see other article). (PH)