The new proposals on the next multiannual financial framework made by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel (see EUROPE 12427/1), are of great concern to the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR), notably because of the proposed cuts for the most developed regions.
Admittedly, the organisation notes, in an analysis published on Tuesday 18 February, an increase of €2 billion (in 2018 prices) for the cohesion policy compared to the Finnish proposals of December, but the cuts remain, despite everything, of €44 billion (-12%) compared to the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework.
Above all, the CPMR says it is "extremely concerned" about the sharp cuts proposed for the most developed regions, which lose 20% (€7 billion) of their allocation compared to the European Commission's proposal. According to the CPMR's calculations, these cuts will primarily affect the four so-called "frugal" Member States, namely Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden.
A strategy by Charles Michel
Charles Michel's strategy is clear and logical, according to one source. The Belgian knows that the Member States, and in particular the "frugal" States, do not have the priority of defending their regions within the framework of the cohesion policy, unlike the States of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the South. Taking from the former to give to the latter would not jeopardise the course of negotiations, according to our source.
Furthermore, in its analysis, the CPMR notes that new provisions aimed at compensating the different Member States by setting aside €6 billion "for future gifts" to be granted to the different Member States during the final stages of negotiations under heading 2 "indicate the intention of the Council President to reach a deal on 20 February, at the cost of adding new exceptions and gifts to the different Member States". This would be a long-standing practice of the Council, we are told.
To view the full analysis: http://bit.ly/2P46Sgc (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)