The European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) approved on Friday 18 December the interinstitutional agreements on the Interreg programme (39 votes in favour, 2 against, 0 abstentions) and on the Just Transition Fund (35 votes in favour, 0 against, 6 abstentions).
The Interinstitutional Agreement on Interreg will increase pre-financing in order to provide greater liquidity at the start of projects, as well as cofinancing rates. The co-legislators also increased the share devoted to climate investments (see EUROPE 12615/16).
In respect of the Just Transition Fund, the co-legislators rejected gas investments (in order to ensure they were kept under very restrictive conditions within the European Regional Development Fund). They also introduced a green reward mechanism effective from 2025. The scope of the Fund has also been extended to take account of the specific nature of the islands and outermost regions (see EUROPE 12620/12).
Both texts received broad support within the REGI Committee, except from far-right MEPs. Both texts are expected to be submitted to the plenary session in January. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)