Janusz Lewandowski: The European Union also needs to harness the know-how of the regions and cities

Responding to a wide range of questions on the future of cohesion policy after 2013 – and how it is to be funded – Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski reiterated his determination to pursue an integrated and consistent approach. He stated: "The Structural Funds have often had an anti-crisis effect in countries in difficulty and a multiplier effect on regional economies. We need to find a way to align cohesion policy with the Europe 2020 strategy and ensure that the criteria do not become unduly constraining and bureaucratic."

Mr Lewandowski spoke in detail about the development and investment partnership contracts between the Commission and the Member States as set out in the Commission document of 19 October. "It is important for the Europe 2020 strategy to be able to take on board the commitments of national and regional partners. We need to harness regional know-how, set due objectives and to try out these contracts, even if it may prove difficult to conclude individual contracts with 270 EU regions. But we should bear in mind that the added value of the European budget is to some extent a younger sibling of the subsidiarity principle."

The commissioner also assured local and regional representatives about the continued role that would be played by the European Social Fund, which he felt would need to take on a higher profile within cohesion policy. Mr Lewandowski made frequent references to the need to make greater use of cohesion policy in major urban agglomerations facing severe economic and social difficulties. The commissioner also rejected any moves to "re-nationalise" the common agricultural policy, arguing in favour of maintaining the direct payment system for farmers because "it is absolutely vital to the survival of entire rural regions. Having said that, it will also be necessary to modernise the CAP and introduce a more significant market dimension".

Commissioner Lewandowski addressed the issue of EU budget funding, in particular the question of "own resources", a number examples of which are mentioned in the Commission document. "The Member States, meeting today just a stone's throw away from the Committee of the Regions' building, are asking us to come up with ideas here. In our discussions, nothing must be off-limits."

Mercedes Bresso agreed that, on this point, that "there is no such thing as a high-yielding pain-free tax. We will therefore have to choose the least bad solution and think of the 'benefits' it will bring through the new EU actions. For us, as local and regional representatives, this means that we will probably opt for the resource with the least negative impact on territorial cohesion and the best prospects for greener and more inclusive growth".

This structured dialogue with associations of local and regional authorities was held ahead of a meeting of the ad hoc budget commission, chaired by Flo Clucas (ALDE-UK). It gave the CoR's first vice-president, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (EPP-ES), an opportunity to set out the broad outlines of the CoR opinion on the reform of the EU budget, for which he is co-rapporteur with Mercedes Bresso. "We'll be analysing the governance of the budget and stressing the importance of a transparent, citizen-friendly structure that focuses on objectives that add value, such as territorial cohesion". Mr Valcárcel also noted the importance of including a flexibility clause throughout the multi-annual programming period in order "to avoid under-using resources and to strengthen the best performing strategic budget headings with greatest citizen recognition". Mr Valcárcel, who is president of the Spanish region of Murcia, stressed in particular that the EU budget needed to recognise the specific nature of cohesion policy, which, in every region, was to be seen as a lever for the Europe 2020 strategy "without unduly exploiting it and losing sight of its primary objectives".

Quotations from representatives of associations of regional and local authorities taking part in the structured dialogue meeting:
Cllr. Sir Albert Bore (CoR member, member of Birmingham City Council), Local Government Association (LGA)
"The strong focus in the EU budget review paper (October 2010) on EU2020 priorities and the seven flagship initiatives is welcome but should be viewed as a strategic framework within which a full range of locally relevant priorities can be delivered, in an integrated manner, as part of a place-based approach."

Gérard Onesta (CoR member, vice-president responsible for European affairs of the Regional Council of the Midi-Pyrénées Region, Association des Régions de France (ARF) (association of French regions)
"The Lisbon strategy did not deliver the expected results because the grassroots authorities in direct contact with EU citizens were not sufficiently involved in its implementation. We must not make the same mistake with the Europe 2020 strategy."

Catarina Segersten-Larsson, (CoR member, member of the Assembly of Värmland County Council), Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)
"Economic, social and territorial cohesion are objectives of the EU, clearly stated in the Lisbon Treaty. The Structural Funds are vital tools to achieve these objectives, and the objectives in the Europe 2020 strategy. The territorial perspective permits us, the local and regional level, to make the most out of our potential, with local solutions to global and European challenges."

Michel Delebarre, (CoR member, mayor of Dunkirk), Mission opérationnelle transfrontalière (MOT) (cross-border operational mission)
"We want EU-co-funded projects that contribute to greater territorial cohesion between and within regions and that make sense on the ground. The Commission should offer regions flexibility by putting forward an 'à la carte' menu that allows regions to evaluate the level of effort required for each major challenge set at EU level."

Alin Adrian Nica, (CoR member, mayor of Dudestii Noi), Romanian Association of Communes (ACoR)
"The Commission's communication on the EU budget review speaks about principles on which the EU spending must be grounded and the fact that the budget should mirror the EU’s core policy priorities. Regional development and rural development policies are of greatest importance for us, representatives of local and regional authorities because it helps us to develop our plans for investments in a coherent way, in order to address existing challenges in an integrated manner."

Christophe Rouillon, (CoR member, Mayor of Coulaines), Association des Maires de France (AMF) (association of French mayors)
"Current Lisbon earmarking is too narrow, and although the next EU policies will be governed by the Europe 2020 strategy, we will have to ensure that priorities are extended to the EU's new challenges in the areas of climate change, demography, and so on, and, above all, that they take account of territorial cohesion. Transparent and simplified procedures have to be put in place to ensure that local authorities of all sizes are not discouraged from participating in European projects and that credit take-up is good."