Brussels, 18/02/004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament welcomed the European Commission's proposal on the future of regional policy. A very large majority of MEPs who took the floor during the presentation of the third Cohesion Report by Commissioner Barnbier were pleased to see him defend continuation of the policy. Speaking on behalf of EPP-ED, José Salafranca of Spain welcomed the "report and the dynamic that underpins it". Socialist Enrique Baron Crespo appreciated the fact that the Community method would be continued. On behalf of the GUE/NGL Group, Helmut Markov stressed that "we are still very far from economic and social cohesion". He greatly insisted on the need to devote at least 0.45% of Community GNI to Cohesion Policy. Only the leader of the EDD Group, Jens-Peter Bonde, mentioned the fact that "current redistribution costs a great deal".
Several speakers nonetheless expressed concern that, because of the Commission's proposals, some regions of the 15 would lose their aid. EP rapporteur in this connection Konstantinos Hatzidakis (Nea Demokratia, Greece) pointed out that many regions would not be pleased with the proposals but that "without Commissioner Barnier, the situation might have been worse still". The message of his report is likely to be: "We cannot go below the Commission proposal". José Salafranca asked why the regions that will lose Cohesion Fund eligibility will not be entitled to phasing out, and raised the question of the fate of very outlying regions (see article above). French Socialist Gilles Savary expressed concern about the disappearance of the Leader+ programme intended for rural areas. Commissioner Barnier replied that rural regions will benefit from the second pillar of Common Agricultural Policy, and may also receive aid under various elements of Cohesion Policy, such as accessibility and new technologies. He specified that, with the disappearance of zoning, the responsibility to ensure rural areas receive aid will fall on the regions themselves. Speaking on behalf of the Liberal Group, Kyosti Virrankoski from Finland called for all contradictions with competition policy and social policy to be avoided. German Green member Elisabeth Schroedter considers it important that, in the context of this policy, "regions can determine their own development".
MEPs again expressed concern about the vague desire of at least six Member States to reduce the Community budget, which would affect the share devoted to Cohesion Policy. Speaking for the Greens/EFA, German national Elisabeth Schroedter criticised the governments that wish to place a 1% of GNI ceiling on the Community budget (Ed.: including the German government). José Salafranca asked whether the Commission's proposal to gradually reach 1.24% of the EU's GNI for the whole of the Community budget (in commitment appropriations) was "far too modest" for financing all policies, including cohesion policy. Commissioner Barnier answered that the Commission's proposal on a budget of 1.15% was "ambitious and responsible".
Finnish Liberal Kyosti Virrankoski, among others, called for the cohesion policy to be simplified by "greatly cutting red-tape" and to be brought well under control by establishing "the personal responsibility of each player".