EU regions, Latvian Presidency and Commission on cohesion policy assessment: time to simplify procedures and speed-up urban agenda
European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) in Riga takes stock of 2014-2020 operational programmes negotiations and Albert Bore (PES/UK) elaborates on what needs to be done.
The drastic simplification of cohesion policy’s administrative procedures, a clearer vision of how new tools such as Integrated Territorial Investments should work, as well as the quick adoption of an EU urban agenda are the priorities highlighted by COTER members in a meeting held in Riga on 12 May. During the meeting the Minister for Regional Development, Kaspars Gerhards, also stressed the importance of the work being undertaken by the Latvian EU Presidency together with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) to assess the implementation of the EU reformed cohesion policy.
The European Commission is completing the adoption of the investment programmes drafted by national, regional and local governments which will use more than €350bn of funds made available under EU cohesion policy 2014-2020. The CoR is working on a preliminary assessment of the programming exercise so as to understand the main trends in regions’ and cities’ investment strategies and consider the impact of the new regulations adopted in 2013.
Despite the introduction of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership, “The involvement of regions and cities in shaping the plans has not been adequate in several cases. It is therefore crucial to make clear that investment priorities and strategic projects cannot be selected with a top-down approach. We must ensure a structured and shared governance if the plans are to succeed stressed COTER chair, Raffaele Cattaneo (EPP/IT) during the discussion on the draft opinion on the outcome of the negotiations on the partnership agreements and operational programmes, prepared by the CoRs' rapporteur - Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica, Ivan Zagar (SI/EPP).
The rapporteur acknowledged the positive impact of new provisions - such as the mandatory concentration of funds on a limited set of priorities, the opportunity of combining different funds and financing sources through new tools such as Community-Led Local Development and Integrated Territorial Investment - as well as the wider scope for financial instruments to support regional policy implementation. At the same time, he insisted on the need to intervene to simplify procedures, also with urgent measures as is the case for territorial cooperation.
These concerns were shared by the European Commission representative, Rudolf Niessler, from the Directorate-General for Regional Policy - who announced the establishment of a high level group on simplification that will also involve the CoR. Reducing administrative burdens and simplifying procedures is also among the Latvian EU Presidency priorities, together with the promotion of a stronger territorial focus in all EU policies and the commitment to bring forward a real European urban development agenda.
“We share the emphasis placed by the CoR on polycentric growth, where mid-sized and smaller towns play a key role said Minister Kaspars. He added that the Latvian Presidency is preparing a declaration on the Urban Agenda in order to reach a political agreement at the Informal Council of Ministers on territorial cohesion and urban affairs that will take place on 10 June in Riga where the CoRs' President, Markku Markkula, will also participate.
During the meeting COTER members also reviewed a working document on the use of financial instruments in supporting territorial development, drafted by the Marshal of the Mazovia Region, Adam Struzik (EPP, PL).
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