29/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – In an analysis note on the recent speech to the European Parliament by the President-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, published on Thursday 28 November, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) questions the future of the Just Transition Fund. According to Ms von der Leyen, the Just Transition Fund would become a “fair transition mechanism”, which would be cross-sectional to the various funds and financial instruments, also in order to attract private investment (see EUROPE 12378/1). CEMR notes a semantic shift: “It seems to be a step in the right direction in relation to [the creation of] a dedicated fund”. Whatever the form of the mechanism or fund, the necessary money must not come from the budget dedicated to cohesion policy, CEMR warns. For the full analysis: http://bit.ly/2q1rZq4 (PH)