The European ministers responsible for cohesion policy will debate, on Tuesday 18 June in Luxembourg, the link between cohesion policy and the EU’s strategic programme for the period 2024-2029, which the European Council is due to adopt at its meeting in Brussels on 27 and 28 June.
This EU ‘General Affairs’ Council will be chaired by Elio Di Rupo, Minister-President of Wallonia (elected to the European Parliament).
For more than three decades, cohesion policy has been a powerful catalyst for growth and prosperity, a European diplomatic source pointed out on Tuesday 11 June. This policy has played a role in reducing disparities between Member States, and many regions have benefited from aid under this policy.
Enrico Letta’s report (see EUROPE 13410/26), presented to the European Council on 17 April 2024, also highlights the intrinsic link between cohesion policy and the continued strengthening of the internal market. Ministers are invited to vote on how to align cohesion policy with the EU’s strategic objectives in the future. “We will discuss how to ensure that all regions are involved in implementing the priorities of the EU’s next strategic agenda, taking account of their characteristics”, explained this source.
The EU Council will also adopt conclusions (https://aeur.eu/f/cln ) analysing the European Commission's Communication on the 9th Cohesion Report (see EUROPE 13380/7).
The report shows that cohesion policy is delivering on its promises by stimulating economic growth and jobs, facilitating the green and digital transitions and providing solid support to Member States and regions, particularly in times of crisis. However, challenges remain, such as demographic change and the disparities between large metropolitan areas and rural regions. The EU Council’s conclusions “provide guidance on the main aspects of cohesion policy for the period after 2027, drawing also on discussions at the informal meeting of ministers responsible for cohesion policy held in Mons in February this year”, according to a diplomatic source. The conclusions invite the Commission to develop proposals for adapting cohesion policy to better respond to structural and emerging challenges.
Under ‘any other business’, the Czech Republic will refer to the joint declaration by 11 ministers responsible for cohesion policy (see EUROPE 13409/14).
Finally, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will return to the declaration on the annual political dialogue in Karlovy Vary and the need to strengthen the just transition in regions affected by decarbonisation (https://aeur.eu/f/clo ). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)