How Cohesion Policy could continue to effectively tackle social and economic disparities between regions and support their green transition, while giving to territories the possibility to overcome major crisis such as skyrocketing inflation and natural disasters. This were the main topics discussed by European local and regional leaders in Sibiu, Romania, on the occasion of the external meeting of the commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). The meeting followed a high-level conference organised by the CoR together with the Ministry of European Investments and Projects of Romania, with the support of Sibiu County Council, which enabled an unprecedented exchange between national, regional and local authorities on the impact of Cohesion Policy and investments.
The proposal for a review of the current long-term budget 2021-2027 of the European Union, put forward on 20 June by the European Commission, highlights once more the need to reaffirm the paramount role of Cohesion Policy in promoting investments at local level and improving citizens' life. During the meeting in Sibiu, the CoR kick-started its work to shape the next Cohesion Policy cycle after 2027. The President of the CoR, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and the Chair of the COTER commission, Emil Boc (RO/EPP), led a first discussion with local administrators on how to strengthen the EU's regional policy in the coming decade. The exchange of views was built also on the outcome of the debate between COTER members and national representatives during the conference "Cohesion, our fundamental value for the future of Europe: regions and cities for a strong recovery and just transition", held the day before in Sibiu. The CoR's political recommendations will be included in the opinion on the future of Cohesion Policy that is scheduled for adoption in the CoR Plenary in November, ahead of the publication of the 9th Cohesion Report by the European Commission.
Emil Boc, COTER Chair, Major of Cluj-Napoca and former Prime Minister of Romania, said: "The cohesion policy has already been in place for a long time, as such it is an already tried and tested investment policy. Positive changes have been made over time made in how the cohesion policy is implemented and moreover in the reduction of disparities among the EU regions. The new cohesion policy post 2027 needs to be bold, to bring about the changes that are needed but at the same time to keep what is functioning well from previous periods."
The Committee of the Regions draws attention that the new sources of disparities such as industrial transformation, demographic decline, development traps, geography of discontent, urban/rural divide, global supply chains affect Member States, regions and citizens in different ways, meaning that the case remains strong for a cohesion policy which leaves no place and no person behind.
During the meeting, local and regional leaders also demanded the European Union to assess the regional impact and increase its financial support to regions with a strong automotive industry, who are among the most affected by the transition towards a "net-zero emissions" economy. It was underlined that the regions are at the forefront to feel the impact of this transformation and are also the ones to address the impact and manage the change. It is important to develop a European strategy that ensures that the transition is not only environmentally but also socially sustainable.
The rapporteur Sven Schulze (DE/EPP), Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, said: " For a just transition in our automotive regions, we need a cross-border mechanism at European level. The change in the automotive industry must not have a negative impact on the prosperity of our regions: 13 million jobs are directly or indirectly affected. Therefore, not only budgetary measures are necessary, but also a common transformation strategy. Business and science-driven cluster initiatives must be supported across Europe. It is not too late for the European automotive industry to remain globally competitive. But we have to start now - and take all citizens with us.". The draft opinion was adopted by the COTER commission and will be voted by the CoR Plenary in October.
The COTER meeting was hosted by the CoR members Daniela Cîmpean (RO/EPP), President of Sibiu County Council, and Adrian Ovidiu Teban (RO/EPP), Mayor of Cugir.
More information:
A video recording of the press conference held on 22 June in Sibiu can be watched here.
Pictures of the Conference and the COTER meeting are available here.