EPP Mayors, Regional Presidents, MEPs and national leaders met today in Athens, Greece as part of the latest conference on the 'Road to Recovery', jointly organised by the EPP Groups in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Parliament. The objectives of this conference were to support EPP local and regional representatives, increase awareness of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in EU Member States and to explain the scope, targets and intended outcome of RRF projects and reforms.
The RRF was created to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.
Greece has thus far been a forerunner in terms of implementation of the RRF, having already absorbed 41% of the total funds that have been allocated to the country.
Olgierd Geblewicz, President of West Pomerania Region and President of the EPP-CoR Group, opened the panel entitled 'The role of regional and local authorities in the design and implementation of the Recovery Plan' by praising the exemplary involvement of the local and regional levels of government in both the formulation and implementation of Greece's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). "The Recovery and Resilience Facility is a centralised tool, but we can see that in those countries, such as Greece, which decided to take on board the input of local and regional authorities (LRAs) at all stages, the RRF is being implemented effectively."
He further emphasised the importance of multi-level governance, highlighting that Greece clearly illustrates how strong EPP leadership, fully involving LRAs, can lead to effective and efficient government. "We are here in the Athens, the cradle of democracy. This is particularly fitting, as the EPP is the only political family that fully embraces the importance of democracy in its structures, by valuing and empowering the presidents of regions, mayors and councillors and working hand in hand with our citizens in our villages, cities and regions across Europe."
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Governor of Central Macedonia and First Vice-President of the CoR, presented concrete statistics confirming the crucial role of local and regional government, which across the EU implements 60% of public investments, 90% of the actions for the environment and climate change, and 60% of the total EU budget. "It is clear that the involvement of LRAs is pivotal if we want to achieve growth and prosperity across Europe. Unfortunately, most Member States did not involve LRAs in the formulation of NRRPs. Thankfully in Greece, Prime Minister Mitsotakis and the EPP national government were fully aware of the added value of involving LRAs at every stage, the benefits of which are clear to see through the high absorption rate of the RRF funds allocated to Greece and the efficient implementation of the NRRP."
Additionally, Mr Tzitzikostas spoke of the complementarity between RRF and Cohesion Policy funds, "Whilst the RRF was always intended to be a temporary tool, Cohesion Policy must remain a core programme of the EU, as its resources are the most effective way to translate the EU level into a tangible reality for our citizens and therefore they form the backbone of our democracy. We must strongly challenge voices calling for a dilution of Cohesion funds, as to do so would mean embarking on a dangerous path for Europe."
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw and Chair of the ENVE Commission in the European Committee of the Regions joined the event online and described the state of play of RRF implementation in Poland. "After the long-awaited change of government in Poland at the end of last year, RRF funds have thankfully been unblocked for the country. However, since the Polish NRRP was formulated, the socio-economic situation has changed dramatically, with over 1 million Ukrainian refugees having arrived in Poland as a result of the ongoing war. It is therefore imperative that we are able to revise the NRRP in order to better tailor it to today's realities." This flexibility is necessary particularly in the context of the fast approaching 2026 deadline for committing RRF funds. "We should look into the possibility of prolonging the implementation of Polish NRRP, which would allow the country to make full use of available funds, as well as sending a positive signal that the EU institutions are able to act flexibly in order to meet the needs of Member States."
Moreover, he reiterated the importance of including LRAs in the implementation phase of the NRRPs, stating that "LRAs are best placed to spend the money efficiently and make the RRF a success. If we are to realise our common ambitions of fighting climate change and creating a more competitive and resilient European economy, then we must work together and create synergies between all levels of government."
Rob Jonkman, Alderman of the municipality of Opsterland and Rapporteur for the CoR opinion on the Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility described Greece's NRRP as one of the most far-reaching and ambitious national plans that he has come across, stressing that the RRF "Holds an important key to revitalising the Greek economy, enhancing its resilience and fostering sustainable growth. The Greek NRRP aims to create 200,000 new jobs and promote small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as green and digital technologies. I am convinced that through collective efforts and a constructive dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders such as civil society, regions and cities, the further implementation of the plan will be a success."
He also highlighted the need to focus on the long-term sustainability of the RRF, "The Greek example has shown that the RRF should not be seen as a short-term injection of funds but rather as an opportunity to create a lasting impact on the economy, society and environment. It is crucial to prioritise investments that lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and resilience. This includes a continuous promotion of innovation, fostering entrepreneurship and fostering a transition towards a greener and more digital economy."