On the first day of the plenary (Wednesday 19 September), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted by 196 to 2 with 5 abstentions an opinion defended by Henri Malosse calling on co-legislators to restore maritime border cooperation to the draft regulation on European territorial cooperation.
The EESC members welcome the 5 sections of the European Commission’s proposal (cross-border affairs, international affairs, transnational affairs, remote regions and international investment in innovation), considering it important to keep the cross-border dimension of maritime cooperation, particularly for islands, in line with Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Where necessary, they call for the creation of new priority entitled ‘insular territory’ with an identified budget line.
On the question of the cofinancing rate, members ask for it to be kept at 85% for the less developed regions, compared with 70% in the Commission’s proposal. The EESC fears that the Commission’s proposal will "discourage" private players and the less developed regions from participating in Interreg programmes.
Other important proposals include members’ desire to extend the macroeconomic strategies to new areas, such as the Western and Easter Mediterranean and the Carpathian and Balkans mountains in the south-east of Europe. They also call for better account to be taken of civil society in partnerships, strengthening of priorities for youth and integrating "societal innovation projects".
On the question of maritime cooperation, the EESC’s position matches that of MEPs (see EUROPE 12087) and the regions (see EUROPE 12004). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)