02/03/2018 (Agence Europe) – During a meeting with Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Creţu on Thursday 1 March, France's Minister for Territorial Cohesion Jacques Mézard is reported to have taken a position against scenarios 2 ('nothing other than the single market') and 3 ('those who want more do more') of the White Paper for the future of the EU (see EUROPE 11736), marking his preference for scenario 1 that favours continuity in Community competences. In his view, Europe should remain present and visible in the territories, and the cohesion policy, as well as its economic impact, plays a crucial role in fighting against "pockets of poverty". Mézard would apparently not want to set the common agricultural policy against the cohesion policy in the post-2020 multiannual financial framework. But in the eyes of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, cuts to the traditional policies are inevitable (see EUROPE 11968). (PH)