Brussels, 17/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - After hearing the minister-presidents of the six East German Länder, on 2 May in Dresden, speak of the way European structural funds are being used in their regions (EUROPE 8941), the Commissioner responsible for regional policy, Danuta Hübner, met German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Secretaries of State Klaus Scharioth (Foreign Affairs) and Caio Koch-Weser (Finance), on 12 May in Berlin. Talks covered cross-border cooperation, ratification of the European Constitution and negotiations on the future financial perspectives. On this occasion, Ms Hübner noted the Bundestag's massive support for the constitutional treaty and expressed her confidence that a compromise would be reached on the financial perspectives 2007-2013 while Luxembourg holds the EU Council Presidency.
On 12 May Ms Hübner spoke at the conference organised by the German unions DGB and the Hans Böckler Foundation. It was attended by the Polish union Solidarnsocz and CMKOS from the Czech Republic. The importance of economic and social cooperation between cross-border German, Polish and Czech regions was strongly emphasised and union representatives gave positive assessment tot heir participation and integration into the EU structures a year after enlargement. They also said that that they were prepared to assume their responsibilities in support of social and economic cohesion and manage Community funds for making a real contribution to reduce the disparity between regions. These union commitments were described as “encouraging” by the Commissioner, who announced her intention of “strengthening the role of social partners in the next generation of cohesion programmes.