18/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - In reaction to the second intermediary report on cohesion, the Conference of the Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) "Welcomes the will of the Commission to take into account the specific situation of the regions that will become ineligible following the statistical effect, as well as the taking into account of the exits described as mechanical". The CPMR is also pleased with the "withdrawal of the thesis in favour of the renationalistion of regional policy" but is "astonished that nothing has been said about Cohesion Funds although this a major instrument" in the perspective of enlargement. The CPMR believes that the budget for regional policy should be above the minimum GDP threshold of 0.45% proposed by the EU for "meeting the numerous challenges of cohesion".