In an own initiative report adopted on Tuesday 11 September (594 votes in favour, 58 against and 35 abstentions), MEPs from the European Parliament remind the European Commission that the characteristics of the border regions within the European Union should not be transferable to the regions bordering the EU's external border, or alternatively just in a limited way.
The own initiative report, for which Krzysztof Hetman (EPP, Poland) is the rapporteur, addresses (in around 20 pages) the numerous difficulties with which the EU's border regions are confronted – notably as regards workers' mobility, or the cross-border activity of SMEs. The MEPs call on the Commission and member states to work on strengthening cooperation and raising as many obstacles as possible.
In particular, the MEPs regret the blind spot from which the Commission's vision seems to suffer towards the external border regions. These regions are confronted with specific issues (regions of third countries outside the single market, very weak integration), as Hetman stated during his speech.
The MEPs thus call on the Commission to carry out an analysis similar to that undertaken as part of its report on 'stimulating growth and cohesion in the European Union's border regions' for the external border regions, internal maritime regions and outermost regions. The MEPs want more resources for regions bordering third countries, especially those that are EU candidates.
In addition, the MEPs would like the future of cohesion policy to take account of the EU's regions that are directly affected by Brexit – notably for the regions which will become external border regions.
The European Commission presented a series of proposals for the next multiannual financial framework, including on European cross-border cooperation – which provides notably for the end of maritime cross-border cooperation, to the great displeasure of the regions and MEPs (see EUROPE 12088, 12087). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)