Cohesion Policy: CoR join forces with provinces from all over Europe calling on all candidates to European elections to clarify their views on the future of cohesion funds

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Candidates in the European elections from all countries should immediately clarify their position on cohesion funds and whether they intend to keep cohesion policies among the EU's priority objectives. This is the appeal launched by the representatives of provinces from all over Europe, gathered in Lucca,Italyfor the Political Assembly of the European Confederation of Local Intermediate Authorities (CEPLI), hosted by the Province of Lucca and the Union of Italian Provinces (UPI).The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Italian Minister for European Affairs, Cohesion Policies and National Reform Programme, Raffaele Fitto, took the floor at the event.

The President of the CoR, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, said: "Cohesion Policy is in danger. Some people consider it an old policy not adapted to the challenges the EU is facing and see the post-covid recovery instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), as a solution, by giving the cheque to national governments. To defend Cohesion Policy, we need to be aware that it needs to be reformed to deliver its main goal of economic, social and territorial cohesion. Theseobjectives remain still today fundamental to keep the EU together. There are lessons to be drawn from the RRF, but there are pillars of Cohesion Policy that cannot be changed: sharedmanagement, multi-level governance, a policy available to all regions, and a long-term investment approach. Cohesion Policy is in the interest of the EU as an expression of the subsidiarity principle established by the Treaty. It's the other side of the coin of the Single Market and one cannot exist without the other or we risk the very essence of the European project."

"The discussion on the future Cohesion Policy post-2027 must start now," stressed Luca Menesini (IT/PES), President of the Province of Lucca and representative of the provinces in the CoR. "We ask that the next European Parliament enhance the role of the provinces in defining the development priorities of the territories and in the implementation of cohesion instruments, because it is through provinces that action can be taken to combat territorial inequalities", he added.

The President of UPI, Michele De Pascale, said: "Cohesion Policy is a unique example of solidarity between nations. "The citizens of Europe move towards common goals as one great people". Mr. De Pascale then recalled the Council of Europe's recent warning to Italy on the role of provinces, saying: "The European Union is the place of democracy: the return to the direct election of the provinces and the guarantee of resources for fundamental functions is also part of the European vision". ​

The President of CEPLI, Andres Violà , who is also member of the CoR, recalled the state of play in France, where provinces play a key role in the management of structural funds. He said: "Thanks to our proximity, we can make an essential contribution to making interventions effective, managing European funds quickly."

The political document with the call on candidates to the incoming European elections was signed by the presidents of associations representing provinces in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Romania and Belgium.

Background

During the 10^th European Summit of Regions and Cities, held in March in Mons, Belgium, the CoR and other founding partners of the EU-wide #CohesionAlliance, launched a joint call to the European institutions and national governments to keep Cohesion Policy as the main pillar of the EU's development model over the next decade. Sign the joint call.

At the conference in Lucca, CEPLI joined the #CohesionAlliance, which now has 12,000 members committed to promoting and strengthening cohesion as an overall value for the European Union, and as a main pillar of the EU's future.

Contact

Monica Tiberi - Spokesperson of the President
Tel: +32 479 51 74 43  
[email protected]