On Thursday, 28 May, the European Commission called on Member States to use the funding opportunities that cohesion policy offers to support the regions the most affected by the energy crisis that has resulted from the war in the Middle East.
In a letter sent to the 27 EU ministers responsible for regional policy, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion Raffaele Fitto indicated that the Just Transition Fund (JTF) could be mobilised where it is possible and necessary to do so, including by creating new financial instruments or adjusting the various existing programmes.
Member States and regions that receive funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund may also reallocate these sums to energy-related investments.
The Italian commissioner explained, “The goal is clear: to rapidly redirect available cohesion resources—under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, and the Just Transition Fund—towards investments that deliver immediate relief to families and businesses suffering from high energy prices.”
The mid-term review of the 2021–2027 programme for European funds (see EUROPE 13361/2) had already made it possible to reallocate €34.6 billion to energy security, competitiveness, and defence. This time, the focus is on energy—in line with the objectives of the ‘AccelerateEU’ strategy, which was presented last April (see EUROPE 13854/1). (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)