A phased enlargement of the EU will lead to a higher cohesion policy budget than without enlargement, but in both scenarios the EU budget for cohesion policy will be lower than in the current period 2021-2027, according to a study by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) published on Tuesday 9 April.
This study was presented to the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development. It compares a no-enlargement scenario with a phased enlargement in which the countries of the Western Balkans join first in 2030, followed by Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.
Under the scenario of enlargement to the Western Balkans (2030), the cohesion policy budget would be lower (€351 billion, compared with €357 billion without enlargement). Under the second wave scenario (Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in 2037), the budget would be higher (€345 billion, compared with €325 billion), but lower than that for the current period 2021-2027 (€369 billion). The study concludes by stressing that the method of allocating funds is not consistent with the European Union’s objectives or with the needs of the regions.
Link to the study: https://aeur.eu/f/bok (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)