The European ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy are meeting in Brussels on Friday 28 March to discuss the future of cohesion policy, as the European Commission prepares its proposals for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.
At an informal lunch, with the participation of the President of the EU Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttö, the ministers will exchange views on how to ensure adequate funding for a Cohesion Policy that contributes to building a secure, competitive and resilient European Union.
Chaired by Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, the EU ‘General Affairs’ Council will hold a debate on the basis of a document (https://aeur.eu/f/g4s ) from the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU entitled ‘A more dynamic and strategic Cohesion Policy: delivering change in the current and next perspective’. “We will be asking ministers how cohesion policy should be programmed in the plan proposed for each country, and how cohesion policy should be adapted in the current financial perspectives to respond effectively to emerging priorities and needs”, according to a senior European official.
Ministers are expected to discuss how to achieve the objectives of cohesion policy as set out in the Treaties and encourage multi-level governance in the new architecture of EU policies after 2027 (see EUROPE 13602/14).
The EU Council will also adopt (26 members, with only Hungary opposed) ‘Conclusions on cohesion and Cohesion Policy post-2027’ (https://aeur.eu/f/g58 ).
In a statement (https://aeur.eu/f/g4x ), Hungary considers that “any possible link between the respect of EU values, including Rule of law and the Charter, and the access to EU funding is to be subject to the negotiations on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework” (see EUROPE 13599/23).
The conclusions emphasise that the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion lies at the heart of the European project. They also stress that cohesion policy “must continue to be based on its key principles, such as multi-level governance, partnership, the local approach, proportionality and subsidiarity”, explained a European source.
Friends of Cohesion. The Romanian delegation will present a non-paper advocating a strong cohesion policy for growth, convergence and competitiveness (see EUROPE 13607/3).
According to a note sent by Romania to Agence Europe, the document is supported by 16 Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
The Member States supporting the document “firmly believe that a strong cohesion policy is a key driver for convergence, resilience and competitiveness”, according to Romania.
These ‘Friends of Cohesion’ countries are defending three main points: a viable and solid budget, preserved in the next MFF, in order to further reduce regional disparities; the maintenance of regional GDP per capita as the main criterion for regional categorisation; and the maintenance of shared management and the other fundamental principles of Cohesion Policy.
Finally, Slovakia has drafted its position on cohesion policy, obtained by Agence Europe (https://aeur.eu/f/g4y ) (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)