On Monday 9 September, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Cordeiro, said that certain elements of the post-2027 Cohesion Policy should be modified,while some of its principles are to be retained.
The EU needs a cohesion policy, the CoR President told the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development (REGI).
“For us, what needs to be preserved is a policy for all regions. It’s not a policy of charity; it’s a policy that strengthens the capacity of regions to face challenges. It has to be adapted to each region or group of regions”, said Vasco Cordeiro. He stressed the need to maintain and strengthen certain principles (multi-level governance, partnership) and to maintain a long-term policy, with mechanisms to deal with extraordinary circumstances.
Among the reforms to be undertaken, he cited simplification at all levels (management, beneficiaries, audits) and “a simpler (single) framework for funds under shared management”. The CoR is not opposed to a stronger link between cohesion policy and reforms (‘European Semester’), but care must be taken not to penalise regions (suspension of funds) if a national government does not implement the promised reforms, warned Mr Cordeiro. He therefore called for a place-based approach to determine the responsibilities of regions and governments.
The CoR president criticised the usual debate on net beneficiaries and net contributors, arguing that everyone, even the most developed regions, benefits from cohesion policy (see EUROPE 13477/2).
Andrey Novakov (EPP, Bulgarian) also criticised the ‘fair return’ debate and called for a policy in favour of all regions. Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D, Spanish) defended a reformed cohesion policy with a “solid and stable” post-2027 budget.
“Cohesion policy is more necessary than ever”, said the Commissioner for Cohesion, Elisa Ferreira, referring to the many structural challenges facing the EU (green transition, digital revolution, etc.). “Without a strong cohesion policy, there is a risk that disparities will increase and that certain regions will be left behind”, according to the Commissioner. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)