With the European Commission due to adopt proposals on the mid-term review of cohesion policy on Tuesday 1 April, Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), who took part in the General Affairs Council on Friday 28 March, opposed any centralisation of this policy in the hands of the national authorities of the EU Member States (see EUROPE 13610/2).
“Cohesion policy cannot become the ambulance for those who are losing out in the race for competitiveness”, declared Kata Tüttő, who is opposed to ideas of transferring cohesion policy funds to finance other EU priorities. She said she was opposed to any plan that would ultimately lead to the renationalisation of competitiveness policies.
The same concerns were voiced by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), which on Friday 28 March opposed the possible recentralisation of policies and funding under the new Competitiveness Fund. The regions have asked for guarantees to preserve their role as direct partners of the European Union, particularly in strategic sectors such as transport, energy, maritime industries and adaptation to climate change. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)