The consequences of the ongoing climate emergency, the
Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's war against Ukraine and the
current record inflation rates triggered by increased
food and energy prices make the strengthening cohesion
as a fundamental value of the European Union more
pressing than ever.
For this reason, the partners of the #CohesionAlliance
– the EU-wide coalition of
12,000 signatories
advocating for a stronger Cohesion Policy - gathered in
Brussels during the
20th edition of the European Week of
Regions and Cities
to reaffirm their commitment to reinforce Cohesion
Policy and increase the territorial impact of all EU
investments in order to make them fit for Europe's
long-term challenges.
Through a
joint declaration
signed today, in the presence of the EU Commissioner
for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and the Chair of the
European Parliament's committee for regional
development, Younous Omarjee, the
European Committee of the Regions together with the
leading European associations of cities and regions
together shared the common will to keep Cohesion Policy
as:
-
the EU's most important investment policy;
- the EU's most visible instrument at local and
regional level;
- a long-term development policy based on principles of
shared management, partnership and multilevel
governance;
- a policy that follows a place-based approach and
addresses the territorial diversity of the Union;
- a key tool to supports territorial cooperation and
promote solidarity and integration.
"Let us remind all EU and national decision-makers of
the indispensable role that Cohesion Policy plays in
the European integration process!" states the
declaration, with which the #CohesionAlliance wants to
start a forward-looking work to make Cohesion Policy
stronger, simpler, more effective and result-oriented
now and in the future.
The Alliance also calls to ensure that cohesion
remains an overall value for the European Union by
ensuring that all relevant EU policies contribute
to reduce disparities among and within Member
States.
Commissioner Ferreira welcomed the signature of the
new joint declaration saying: "
I am very happy with the relaunch of the
Cohesion Alliance. It could not be timelier in
these extremely challenging times. You have
been a very important partner in shaping
Cohesion Policy and keeping regional and local
communities at its heart, and you will remain
so in the future. We need a strong Cohesion
Alliance to advocate the place-based approach
for all policies under the “do no harm to
cohesion” principle. And we need your
testimonies and experience to speak up for
Cohesion and remain engaged in the discussion
on the future of the policy
."
The Chair of the REGI committee Omarjee praised the
renewed mobilization of the Alliance, and stated: "
Europe needs a strong and ambitious Cohesion
Policy to tackle the multiple crises that it is
facing. Cohesion Policy is the main EU policy
for structural investment and solidarity. It
allows us to respond to urgent, medium and
long-term challenges by guaranteeing strategic
and much needed investments in every region, in
order to leave no one behind. Cohesion Policy
deserves to be defended and supported, because
it is one of the pillars of the European Union
."
VOICES FROM THE #COHESIONALLIANCE:
Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the
European Committee of the Regions
(CoR) and Member of the Parliament of the Autonomous
Region of the Azores (PT), said: "
Today's challenges call for more cohesion in Europe
and a stronger role for Cohesion Policy, but at the
same time we need to join forces and close ranks to
defend this policy. This is why we launch a new
Cohesion Alliance for new challenges, to promote
the importance of Cohesion Policy for our
communities, coordinate and work together,
especially to convince those that do not yet
realise how crucial cohesion policy is
."
Emil Boc, Chair of the CoR's commission for Territorial
Cohesion Policy and Budget and Mayor of Cluj-Napoca
(RO) said: "
The future of Cohesion means a better multi-level
governance and effective decentralization to ensure
that the local and regional levels have the
necessary capacities to manage the change, to
provide citizens with the trust that they will have
a fair chance to reap the benefits of the digital
and green transformation
."
Jean-Luc Vanraes, Vice-President of the
Assembly of European Regions
(AER) and Member of the Municipal Council of Uccle
(BE), said: "
Cohesion Policy enables regional authorities to
recover from today’s crises and seize future
opportunities. This is why the partnership
principle must be a guiding light to achieve robust
growth in our villages, towns, and cities
."
Karl-Heinz Lambertz
, President of the
Association of European Border Regions
(AEBR) and member of the Parliament of the
German-speaking Community in Belgium, said: "
European Cohesion should guarantee a sustainable
development and equal opportunities for the
citizens living in handicapped territories, such as
(cross-)border regions, mountains, islands, etc.
Instead of empty places, we need living and
functional cross-border spaces boosting integration
on a daily basis
."
Jean-Claude Marcourt, President of the
Conference of European Regional Legislative
Assemblies
(CALRE) and of the Parliament of Wallonia (BE), said: "
While underlining the European Commissions’s
efforts in simplifying Cohesion Policy procedures,
the CALRE stands with the European Committee of the
Regions in promoting these, in order both to
guarantee equal opportunities in access to funds by
the European regions and to ensure the
irreproachable use of these at the benefit of their
people
."
Karine Gloanec-Maurin, member of the
Council of European Municipalities and Regions
(CEMR) and President of the community of communes of
Collines du Perche (FR), said: "
Local and regional projects financed by Cohesion
Policy are the most visible sign of the EU added
value for the Europeans. It can allow us as local
elected representative to talk about Europe in our
territories and to engage with our citizens.
Cohesion Policy is not only a fundamental
solidarity pilar, it is also in the DNA of the
European project
.
"
Cees Loggen, President of the
Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions
(CPMR) and Regional Minister of the Province
Noord-Holland (NL), said: "
Cohesion Policy must become more flexible to remain
relevant in an increasingly unpredictable world.
However, we demand flexibility that enables
tailor-made interventions, strengthens local and
regional authorities and reduces administrative
burdens.
"
Dario Nardella, President of
Eurocities
and Mayor of Florence (IT), said: "
Cohesion Policy is crucial to accelerating urban
transformations. As cities, we reiterate our strong
support for the renewal of the Cohesion Alliance.
With the energy crisis looming in our cities,
cohesion funds are once again demonstrating their
strategic value. Investments in energy efficiency
renovations and clean urban transport
infrastructure are already promoting the energy
transition in cities. With a strong Cohesion Policy
we can reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian gas
faster
.
"
Contact:
CohesionAlliance@cor.europa.eu