The CoR is the first EU institution to start the discussion on how to strengthen the EU's regional policy in the coming decade.
"Cohesion is the fundamental value that keeps our Union together and is badly needed to counteract the challenges being faced including demographic change and brain drain. The purpose of cohesion policy's funding instruments is to provide investments for every village, city and region in the EU so as to ensure their economic and social development. There is no other EU policy that does that. Cohesion is the 'glue' that keeps us united. And still cohesion needs to address the growing inequalities faced by citizens across European cities and regions including the digital divide. The opinion of which I am co-rapporteur will serve as an opportunity to defend and modernise cohesion policy as well as for the CoR to put forward its political recommendations on the matter in advance of the 9th Cohesion Report and the subsequent strategic agenda of the European Union, which are both expected in spring 2024."
Emil Boc (EPP, RO), the Chair of the COTER Commission, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and former Prime Minister of Romania made these remarks after being appointed by the CoR COTER Commission to serve as co-rapporteur on the future of cohesion policy post-2027 together with The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro.
Together with the work of the new #CohesionAlliance, the opinion will be a strategic milestone to design the common position of cities and regions on how to shape the future of the main investment policy of the EU.
Local and regional leaders are mobilised to strengthen cohesion policy in the future and showcase how this policy, which represents one third of the total EU budget, is improving the everyday life of all EU citizens. With an unprecedented move, the CoR members appointed their president Vasco Alves Cordeiro and the COTER Chair Emil Boc as co-rapporteurs of a crucial opinion on the future of cohesion policy.
The work on the opinion will be finalised by the two co-rapporteurs in November 2023, when is scheduled for adoption in the CoR Plenary, ahead of the publication of the 9th Cohesion Report by the European Commission.
Together with the leading European associations of cities and regions, the CoR is a founding partner of the #CohesionAlliance, whose mission is to affirm cohesion as a fundamental value of the European Union and a key objective for all its policies and investment. On 16 March, a high-level event will mark the kick-off of the renewed activity of the Alliance towards 2027.
During COTER Commission meeting on 16 February, representatives of local and regional authorities also presented good practices showcasing how cohesions policy is making a difference on the ground bringing Europe closer to citizens and demonstrating the EU added value.
During today's COTER Commission meeting, representatives of local and regional authorities including Adam Struzik (EPP,PL), President of Mazovia Region presented good practices showcasing how cohesion policy is making a difference on the ground to bring Europe closer to citizens and demonstrating the EU added value.
Members also exchanged their views with rapporteur Thomas Habermann (EPP/DE) on the 'Mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework and stressed the need of fresh money and that efforts must be stepped up to combat the disparities at local and regional level in Europe that have been exacerbated by the various crises.
In addition, COTER members also had exchanges of views on the 'do no harm to cohesion' principle. Rafal Trzaskowski (EPP/PL), Mayor of Warsaw and CoR ENVE Commission chair said "We have to ringfence Cohesion Policy from any attempt to be used for other priorities. The recent challenges necessitates different funding and approach. Additional funding must be found."