Members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted a series of opinions on future cohesion policy on Wednesday 5 December, calling for a strengthening of the provisions of the various regulations put forward by the European Commission for post-2020 cohesion policy.
In general, members are opposed to the 10% budget cut compared to the current multiannual financial framework.
Regarding legislative texts, they made numerous amendments to the Common Provisions Regulation, the text supported by Catiuscia Marini (PES, Italy), calling in particular for co-financing to be increased to 85% for the least developed regions and the outermost regions (compared with 70% in the European Commission's proposal), 70% for the transition regions and 50% for the more developed regions.
Furthermore, they are calling for a return to the N+3 rule currently in force, in other words the principle that the funds allocated to each programme should be spent no later than three years after the end of the budget cycle, unlike the Commission's proposal, which wants to return to the N+2 rule to accelerate payments. In addition, they call for the abolition of macroeconomic conditions.
They also demand that the code of good conduct with regard to partnership agreements be fully implemented.
Regarding the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, advocated by Michiel Rijsberman (ALDE, The Netherlands), members called for a review of the budget cuts for the Cohesion Fund (-46% provided for by the Commission) and the maintenance of the current level for the ERDF. Overall, they are calling for greater synergy with the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the ESF+.
Furthermore, they insist on ‘green finance’ by directing it more towards actions against climate change and dealing with natural disasters. They endorse the possibility of transferring funds from the ERDF and CF to other European programmes, but only if this is done within the framework of a partnership agreement. Moreover, they also stress the importance of the ERDF focusing on regions with a geographical and demographic constraint.
As for the text on the European Social Fund, advocated by Susana Díaz Pacheco (PES, Spain), the members - like the MEPs (see EUROPE 12152) - reinforce the regional dimension and insist on increased funding to help regions on the Union's external borders to better welcome and integrate migrants. They highlight the link between the ESF+ and the recommendations country by country to better implement the European pillar of social rights.
Finally, upon the advice on the European territorial cooperation regulation (Interreg), negotiated by Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis (EA, France), the Committee rejects the proposal to give priority to border regions where half the population lives within 25 km of the border. "An arbitrary proposal [...] that does not reflect the reality of most cross-border territories", explains the CoR. Members also oppose the reduction of EU co-financing rates from 85% to 70%.
In the European Parliament, negotiations on the regulatory umbrella are lagging far behind, due to the considerable number of amendments tabled (2181). A vote is scheduled in committee for the end of January (see EUROPE 12143). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)