12/12/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday, 12 December, the presidents of the main regional organisations (CALRE, CEMR, and CPMR) and the Committee of the Regions sent a letter on behalf of the Cohesion Alliance to new President of the European Council Charles Michel in which they warn him against any thought of cutting the Cohesion Policy budget. They are concerned about the recent proposals by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU suggesting a 12% budget cut (–€44 billion) in the Cohesion Policy allocation (see EUROPE 12388/9). Moreover, they are calling for the future Just Transition Fund to have its own budget that is not drawn from the Cohesion Policy budget, as currently envisaged by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12388/3). In addition, they are concerned about the trend towards centralising management of structural and investment funds. To read the letter: http://bit.ly/2LILont (PH)