Regions are satisfied with Commission's announcements on recovery plan and next European budget

On Wednesday 27 May, Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP, Greece), the President of the Committee of the Regions, welcomed the European Commission's announcements concerning the next multiannual financial framework and the recovery plan (see EUROPE 12494/1), and noted that all of the Committee's key proposals had been taken on board.

So, according to the President, in addition to a sum of at least €500 billion, the Commission has included a new health care programme that takes the regional level into account, as requested by the Committee. The Commission is mainly “reinvigorating” cohesion policy with more than €373 billion of allocations (including €90 billion for the rural sector) including €40 billion to transition.

Isabelle Boudineau (PES, France), the Chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER), emphasised the need to take greater account of regional and local actors in the budgetary process for the ‘European Semester’ and the importance of adopting the next Multiannual Financial Framework without further delay.

The CPMR is satisfied, but watchful. Vasco Cordeira, the President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions, also welcomed the Commission's announcements, particularly as they help to avoid a funding gap between the two financial frameworks.

However, the organisation is watchful with regard both to proposals related to the transition between the current budget period and the programming period 2021-2027 and to aspects of the distribution of REACT-EU funds between the regions involved.

Cities worried. “Good to see an ambitious budget for EU recovery. Now we need to make sure it arrives where it is needed most: in cities”, tweeted Dario Nardella, the Vice-President of Eurocities, explaining that, without financial support, cities will be forced to make drastic budget cuts.

At the beginning of this month, before the Commission issued its proposals, the Committee of the Regions adopted a declaration, which can be found at: https://bit.ly/3gESRlt (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)