On Thursday 14 March in Strasbourg, the European Parliament deemed that there “must be” a real-terms increase in the overall budget allocated to cohesion policy and the share of this policy in the multiannual financial framework (MFF) in relation to the 2021-2027 programming period.
In adopting (433 votes in favour, 36 against and 51 abstentions) the report by Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgarian) on cohesion policy 2014-2020 and lessons to be learned for the post-2027 period, Parliament stressed that the cohesion policy budget should be used “primarily” for cohesion policy objectives and not for new instruments and programmes outside the scope of cohesion policy. In the case of Ukraine, the cohesion policy budget “cannot and must not cater for the expected financial demands of reconstruction”, according to Parliament.
MEPs are calling for 0.26% of the cohesion policy budget to be earmarked exclusively for development in border regions at the start of each new programming period, from 2028-2034.
Parliament calls on the Commission, in the post-2027 cohesion policy regulations, to continue to stress the importance of addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity loss and environmental protection. It considers that mechanisms for integrating climate issues and resilience to climate change should be an integral part of programming and implementation (project selection).
“Cohesion policy is having unprecedented positive effects on regions, towns, rural areas, border areas and remote regions”, commented Andrey Novakov, the rapporteur on this dossier.
For Corina Crețu (S&D, Romanian), the solidarity mechanism between all EU regions “must be strengthened”. The S&D group believes that cohesion policy after 2027 must not fall victim to other legitimate needs. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)