Ensuring trade agreements are firmly rooted in a proper regional impact assessment, extending the current funding period for REACT EU to 2025, as well as fiscal and economic stimuli to support local commerce were the main issues raised by EPP-CoR members during a debate on 'Trade and EU Recovery' with Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission For An Economy that Works for People.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Committee of the Regions (CoR) President and Governor of Central Macedonia, Greece appealed to Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis for help to make sure that key role of Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) is duly mirrored in governance of recovery plans. "We need shared ownership and coordination" said Tzitzikostas. "Reforming EU trade policy must rely on the strong involvement of local and regional actors. We stand ready to cooperate with you to make this happen" he concluded.
Eddy van Hijum, Member of the Council of the Province of Overijssel welcomed the Trade Policy Review, the promising new legal instruments that it proposes, and the enforcement capacity. However he appealed against a one size fits all approach. "Let's keep in mind that the impact of trade agreements may be very different for regions, SME’s and industry. We need to make sure that agreements are firmly rooted in a proper regional impact assessment". van Hijum added that the regions receiving the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) Award are the living proof that regional economic policy makes a difference. "These regions show that recovery from the pandemic starts at the local and regional level." Van Hijum also raised the subject of competition and unfair distortion, and also the involvement of local and regional authorities in the drafting of the national recovery plans".
Michael Schneider, State Secretary, Representative of the Land of Saxony-Anhalt to the Federal Government lauded EU efforts to respond to the pandemic. However, he expressed concern that these programs will not work as well as they should. Referring to REACT EU, Schneider said that a recent survey among the German federal states and their administrative authorities has shown that this program is being used. However, it is doubted that the funds can be used in a timely and optimal manner. "We suggest extending the current funding period to 2025 as a remedy. Our goal, and therefore, the optimal and visible use of all available means, must not fail due to inadequate framework conditions."
Rastislav Trnka, Chairman of Košice Self – Governing Region said "I am convinced that we must get out of the crisis as more resilient actors, where life and business will be conducted in a more sustainable way than before. I believe that economic recovery does not mean a return to the pre-crisis situation, but it must be a leap forward. “
Jorge Azcón Navarro, Mayor of Zaragoza said that few sectors are so decisive for the economic recovery of cities like commerce. He said that this year, Zaragoza allocated 9 million Euro for a new local commerce plan. He spoke of fiscal and economic stimuli used to support local commerce including financing a percentage of the purchases which citizens could spend in new purchases. "Through such initiatives we have managed to mobilize seven million euros in our local trade" he said.
Franz Schausberger, Representative of Salzburg Province said "The reorganization of trade policy and the development of the EU after COVID-19 cannot work without the timely and comprehensive involvement of the regions and municipalities"
