The Minister-President of Wallonia, Elio Di Rupo, who chaired the EU General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday 18 June, said that in view of the Union’s strategic challenges, “it would be useful to reflect on a reform of cohesion policy”.
At a time when discussions are underway on how to improve cohesion policy (see EUROPE 13433/15), Mr Di Rupo pointed out that several European leaders believe that “European investments should be part of structural reforms”. This is a pertinent question, provided, of course, that “the logic of shared management with the European regions concerned is respected”, he warned.
The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council has reaffirmed its commitment to cohesion policy, which has played a “remarkable role in reducing disparities and promoting convergence within the Union”.
The Commissioner for Cohesion, Elisa Ferreira, said that it was essential to strengthen cohesion policy. She also pointed out that cohesion and competitiveness are two sides of the same coin.
But it goes without saying that the new challenges require new thinking, said Ms Ferreira, who explained that the ministers had discussed a series of improvements to be made to the implementation of the policy, in the light of the lessons to be learned from the past:
- “We need tailored responses to the challenges we face (and) our territories require place-based solutions;
- We need a modernised delivery system, inspired by the lessons of the last years, but adapted to the unique features of cohesion policy”. Simplification is necessary, but it should not equate centralisation, the Commissioner warned, stating that policy must be place-based and implemented at the right regional level;
- investments alone are not enough to ensure the necessary economic transformation. It is therefore important to “factor in how growth-inducing and cohesion-relevant reforms can be linked to the policy”;
- better governance and institutions are needed;
- the built-in flexibility of the policy needs to be further improved, “to better react to unforeseen crises as well as emerging challenges and priorities, while at the same time maintaining the stable framework for long-term development of the policy”.
Finally, according to the Commissioner, it is important to ensure that cohesion policy and the Treaty objective of promoting convergence and reducing disparities “feature prominently in the Council’s strategy agenda for the next five years”.
She said she was reassured to see that many EU Council members shared this vision. Cohesion must be seen as a “European public good”.
During the debate, some ministers reportedly referred to the reforms needed in this policy. Germany is said to have indicated that improving structural reforms in the regions is important. Denmark reportedly insisted in particular on the need to modernise this policy, without compromising the regional approach.
The so-called ‘friends of cohesion’ are said to have stressed the need for adequate resources to meet the many challenges, while the so-called ‘frugal’ countries (or ‘net contributors’ to the EU budget) mentioned the importance of respect for the Rule of law and the fight against corruption.
The EU Council also approved conclusions (https://aeur.eu/f/cpi ) assessing the Commission Communication on the 9th Cohesion Report (see EUROPE 13380/7).
The Czech Republic informed the ministers of the joint declaration of 14 May 2024 on the future of cohesion policy, approved by 11 ministers responsible for this policy at their meeting in Prague (see EUROPE 13409/14). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)