Brussels, 30/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - As announced by Commissioner Danuta Hübner (Regional Policy) at the beginning of the month to MEPs from the European Parliament's regional development committee, the College adopted its fourth report on economic and social cohesion this Wednesday. This for the first time describes the economic, social and territorial situation of the EU27 and the 268 regions of which it is composed. It contains a detailed analysis of the situation of the regions on the triple basis of GDP, productivity and employment, takes stock of the challenges which will face the member states and their regions in the future, and gives an initial evaluation of the consequences of European Cohesion Policy for the programming period 2000-2006, as well as the preparations for the new period 2007-2013. It is accompanied by 17 questions aiming to stimulate discussion, both within and outside the European institutions, on the Cohesion Policy beyond 2007-2013. This fourth report will be officially launched at the fourth Cohesion Forum, which will be held on 27-28 September in Brussels. In the meantime, and as she had previously announced, Ms Hübner will present the report on 7 June to the EP regional development committee (for details see EUROPE 9419).
Presenting the report to the press, Danuta Hübner recalled the major challenges with which the regions will be confronted in the coming decades, which have links to regional disparities: (1) demographic change, marked by a substantial decline in the European population “which should start around 2020” (and which is already making its effects felt in many regions, “particularly in the 85 regions situated mostly in the new member states”), and by the dependence rate of older persons, which could reach up to 50% in Spain, Greece and Italy; (2) globalisation, “with increased pressure from global competitors in sectors such as leather goods, for example”; (3) “climate change, the increase in energy prices, social polarisation”. “These challenges demand political reactions”, the commissioner said, adding that this report “analyses a range of aspects linked to political reactions and the future”. On the subject of the tendencies which are emerging, Ms Hübner said that: (1) the budgets must face up to the ageing population, with reform of social security systems a key point; (2) management skills, decision-making processes and the amount of spending are increasingly decentralised at local and regional level.
The commissioner said that “this report does not propose a reform of the Cohesion Policy at all, but rather launches reflection on the future, with the period 2007-2013 as a key”. She added: “The Cohesion Policy essentially consists of offering possibilities to every European citizen, irrespective of where they live, by alleviating disparities between regions, mobilising untapped potential and concentrating resources around growth-generating investments”. In Ms Hübner's view, “the European Cohesion Policy is not just money. This policy has gone beyond money. The lever action has worked well. Private capital has been attracted by the Community budget, by the Europe element”. On the question of whether there was a risk of re-nationalisation of the Regional Policy for 2007-2008, Ms Hübner replied: “There is no such risk because we are moving away from that tendency. An important factor for us is that the European Regional Policy enables more regions to meet the challenge of global competition (…) What is important is to give power to the people at local and regional level to tackle this global competition”. Info: http: //ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm (gb)