The outgoing European Commissioner for Cohesion Policy, Elisa Ferreira, was optimistic about the future of the policy, despite the concerns and occasional criticism of MEPs during a plenary question session on the challenges of implementing the 2021-2027 cohesion policies on Tuesday 26 November.
Asked about her successor, Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President designate, she said she had been in contact with Mr Fitto, the future Commissioner. “I am completely convinced that he will be up to the task of promoting a positive agenda thanks to his experience, but this will be done within the framework of an ongoing open dialogue with Parliament. It’s inevitable”, she said.
In general terms, she felt that this policy had made progress in terms of administrative simplification and reducing the level of fraud. Ms Ferreira also advised that the financial envelopes and core identity of this policy should be maintained post 2027 (see EUROPE 13498/12).
Asked whether the Commission had decided to use cohesion policy funds to finance defence industry projects, Ms Ferreira said that it was necessary to “proceed on a case-by-case basis”. For example, it might be possible to fund stations or schools or infrastructure that could be used as shelters. “But, of course, that’s not to support the defence industry. Cohesion policy is not a policy for defence”, she concluded. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)