Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

#CohesionAlliance mobilises to back the European Parliament in the final stretch to secure a strong and participated cohesion policy 2021-2027

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 27, 2020
Articles, Politics of Europe, Organizations, Geography of the European Union, Regional policy of the European Union, Cohesion, Assembly of European Regions, Region, European Union, Group cohesiveness, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

Further interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER):"In this crisis, it is time to practice the leadership that our citizens expect from the EU and national governments. Time to promote new jobs, competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth to drive the recovery. To achieve this, funding must reach our regions, villages and cities immediately. And they must have a say in how best to use the funds."The negotiations between European Parliament and Council on the rules for cohesion policy 2021-27 are entering the final phase.

Key Points: 
  • Further interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):
    • Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER):"In this crisis, it is time to practice the leadership that our citizens expect from the EU and national governments. Time to promote new jobs, competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth to drive the recovery. To achieve this, funding must reach our regions, villages and cities immediately. And they must have a say in how best to use the funds."
    • The negotiations between European Parliament and Council on the rules for cohesion policy 2021-27 are entering the final phase.
    • Cities, towns and regions and the European Parliament have converged on key demands and successfully advocated for strong cohesion policy beyond 2020.
    • "Concluding the negotiations on all cohesion policy programmes is more urgent than ever.
    • It's less than one month until Christmas, so national governments should stop playing games and listen to their cities and regions.
    • A delay in the negotiations on the cohesion policy regulation risks a postponement of the start of programmes.
    • More than ever, cohesion policy must be powerful, because today what is threatening is the distortion of economies and divergence.

    • Cities and regions putting cross-border cooperation at the heart of Europe's future

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, November 27, 2020
    Articles, Organizations, World, Confederations, European Union, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, Cross-border cooperation

    During their meeting members agreed that a minimum of cross-border cooperation needs to be guaranteed in times of crisis.

    Key Points: 
    • During their meeting members agreed that a minimum of cross-border cooperation needs to be guaranteed in times of crisis.
    • Close to one-third of EU citizens live and work in Europe's border regions.
    • People living in border regions are often facing specific challenges, whether it is finding a job, accessing healthcare and other public services, as well as everyday commuting and overcoming administrative problems.
    • The coronavirus pandemic with the sudden closure of EU internal borders was a stark reminder that European territorial cooperation cannot be taken for granted.

    Press release - REACT-EU: additional support of €47.5 billion agreed to address impact of COVID-19

    Retrieved on: 
    Wednesday, November 18, 2020
    Economy of the European Union, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, Brexit and arrangements for science and technology, Budget of the European Union

    REACT-EU will provide 47,5 billion over the next two years.

    Key Points: 
    • REACT-EU will provide 47,5 billion over the next two years.
    • The resources will be made available through the EU Structural Funds, with 37.5 billion allocated for 2021 and 10 billion for 2022.
    • Moreover, EU countries will be allowed to use these additional resources until the end of 2023, beyond the original Commission proposal of 2022.
    • The REACT-EU additional resources will come from the European Union Recovery Instrument .

    Yusuf / Cat Stevens

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, October 23, 2020
    Universal Music Group, Albums, Record labels, Economy of the European Union, Island Records artists, Tea for the Tillerman, Mona Bone Jakon, Cat Stevens, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, Regional policy of the European Union, European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Following the widely acclaimed release of Tea for the Tillerman, December 2020 will see Yusuf / Cat Stevens celebrate the two albums that first established him as his generation's premier acoustic troubadour and then fired him into international superstardom.

    Key Points: 
    • LOS ANGELES, Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Following the widely acclaimed release of Tea for the Tillerman, December 2020 will see Yusuf / Cat Stevens celebrate the two albums that first established him as his generation's premier acoustic troubadour and then fired him into international superstardom.
    • The album has a deeply personal, almost vulnerable quality that, arguably, makes it the most compelling and human of all of Yusuf / Cat Stevens' work.
    • Tillermanfollowed Mona Bone Jakon only seven months later that same year, confirming the sensational rebirth of Cat Stevens as a spiritual seeker capable of drawing from a seemingly bottomless well of imaginative inspiration.
    • With Mona Bone Jakon and Tea for the Tillerman Yusuf / Cat Stevens asserted himself both lyrically and musically as a true artist in the most profound sense.

    Regions must be at the heart of European economic policy

    Retrieved on: 
    Wednesday, September 30, 2020
    Articles, Nature, Natural environment, Environmentalism, Self-sustainability, Economy of the European Union, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, Ecological resilience, Psychological resilience, Recovery plan, Sustainability, Regional policy of the European Union

    He stated that "The EUR 750 billion Recovery plan must both enable us to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis and redirect the European development model.

    Key Points: 
    • He stated that "The EUR 750 billion Recovery plan must both enable us to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis and redirect the European development model.
    • As the institutional representatives of cities and regions, we regret that governance is too centralised at national level and that there is insufficient ambition in terms of sustainable development.
    • In relation to the structural funds of cohesion policy, we must avoid duplication and robbing Peter to pay Paul.
    • The Recovery fund, known as the "Recovery and Resilience Facility", can represent a real qualitative leap to boost European investment capacity, but it will not happen without involving Europe's cities and regions".
    • I expect the European Commission to propose an ambitious text for a resilient, digital and sustainable Europe".
    • The rapporteur for the European Parliament on the Economic Governance Review, Margarida Marques(PT/PSE), took part in the debate.
    • They both stressed the importance of putting local and regional communities at the heart of every national recovery plan.
    • Click hereto register for the European Week of Regions and Cities 2020

    Response to the State of the Union speech by President Ursula von der Leyen

    Retrieved on: 
    Saturday, September 19, 2020
    Organizations, Articles, European Committee of the Regions, Regionalism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Regional policy of the European Union, European Union, Region, Interreg, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

    by

    Key Points: 
    • by
      Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions The European Union cannot succeed without regions and cities.
    • It is the engagement by regional and local politicians that will deliver the more ambitious targets for climate change announced yesterday.
    • Learning from the COVID-19 crisis Europe's regions and cities continue to be on the front line in the fight against COVID-19.
    • Through our Committee, the 350 regions and 90,000 municipalities in the EU already called for a stronger European Health Union in March.
    • Putting cohesion back into the heart of the European Union It is deeply regrettable President von der Leyen did not directly refer to regions and cities or to the value and importance of the EU's cohesion policy.
    • The response to the pandemic has demonstrated that better cooperation between local, regional, national and EU authorities is not just desirable, but life-saving.
    • We can never understand the state of the EU, without understanding the state of its people and the territories they are living in.
    • The European Union is not just a union of Member States, it is also a union of regions and cities.

    Press release - MEPs approve €6.2 billion to tackle crisis and speed up vaccine deployment

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, September 18, 2020
    Articles, Health, Economy of the European Union, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, COVID-19 pandemic, European Commission, COVID-19 vaccine

    Cohesion funds will be topped up with 5.1 billion to ensure that requests for reimbursements from member states for actions taken under the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+) can be covered.

    Key Points: 
    • Cohesion funds will be topped up with 5.1 billion to ensure that requests for reimbursements from member states for actions taken under the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+) can be covered.
    • The CRII+ was created to relax the cohesion spending rules to increase flexibility, whereas the CRII redirected unspent money from the EU budget to tackling the COVID-19 crisis.
    • This is part of the European Commissions COVID-19 vaccine strategy.
    • Parliament approved the proposal with 643 votes in favour, 29 against and 14 abstentions.

    REACT-EU: Council agrees on its partial negotiating position

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, July 23, 2020
    Organizations, Economy of the European Union, International organizations, Confederations, European Union, World, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, European Parliament

    EU ambassadors, meeting within the Committee of Permanent Representatives, today endorsed the Council's partial position on REACT-EU, the EU initiative with the biggest impact in the short to medium term, as well as on a series of amendments to long-term legislative proposals.

    Key Points: 
    • EU ambassadors, meeting within the Committee of Permanent Representatives, today endorsed the Council's partial position on REACT-EU, the EU initiative with the biggest impact in the short to medium term, as well as on a series of amendments to long-term legislative proposals.
    • Cohesion package 2021-2027

      Also today, EU ambassadors endorsed the Council's updated partial position, which takes into account the amendments to the structural funds for the 2021-2027 programming period.

    • Consequently, the Council's position endorses the role of culture and tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation.
    • Next steps

      Once the European Parliament has agreed on its position on the legislative proposals, negotiations will begin between the two institutions with the aim of reaching an agreement.

    Europe's recovery will fail without a strong cohesion policy and a real partnership among EU, national, regional and local actors

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, July 16, 2020
    Europe, Continents, Geography of the European Union, Association of European Border Regions, Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Region, Assembly of European Regions, Cohesion, Budget of the European Union, European Union, European Committee of the Regions, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

    Interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):You can rewatch the event here.Ann-Sofi Backgren, Presidentof the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and Member of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, stressed the need of a stronger Cohesion Policy within the new MFF and the Recovery Fund taking into account European territories facing specific difficulties such as border, mountain, peripheral regions, islands and other maritime regions; additional constraints like sparse and/or aged population, brain drain, lack of infrastructures and public services; and of course general challenges, namely climate and demographic changes, transition to more sustainable development approaches and energy sources, optimal digitalisation, and resilience to global threats like Covid-19. Many border regions share many of these circumstances, and there are further difficulties related to the growing need to coordinate diverse national regulations which might collide at national boundaries.The #CohesionAlliance calls for a strong, effective and flexible cohesion policy based on long-term perspectives and the principles of partnership involving local and regional governments in all recovery measures.

    Key Points: 
  • Interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):You can rewatch the event here.
    • Ann-Sofi Backgren, Presidentof the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and Member of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, stressed the need of a stronger Cohesion Policy within the new MFF and the Recovery Fund taking into account European territories facing specific difficulties such as border, mountain, peripheral regions, islands and other maritime regions; additional constraints like sparse and/or aged population, brain drain, lack of infrastructures and public services; and of course general challenges, namely climate and demographic changes, transition to more sustainable development approaches and energy sources, optimal digitalisation, and resilience to global threats like Covid-19. Many border regions share many of these circumstances, and there are further difficulties related to the growing need to coordinate diverse national regulations which might collide at national boundaries.
    • The #CohesionAlliance calls for a strong, effective and flexible cohesion policy based on long-term perspectives and the principles of partnership involving local and regional governments in all recovery measures.
    • This will help kickstart and rebuild the economy, foster sustainability and strengthen territorial and social cohesion in the European Union.
    • This is why we need a strong cohesion policy and a fair and cohesive recovery.
    • Cohesion DNA can be seen throughout the Commission's recovery proposals: the generous provision for cohesion policy and the cohesion method in the recovery fund and elsewhere.
    • Short-term recovery must be complementary to the pursuit of long-term objectives, in particular economic, social and territorial cohesion.
    • Anyone who believes in a strong EU cohesion policy is welcome to join the #CohesionAlliance by signing the new declaration.
    • All 12.000 signatories of the initial declaration are invited to reaffirm their political commitment by raising awareness about the vital role of cohesion policy and the need for a strong cohesion policy in the next long-term EU budget and Recovery Plan.


    Background: In October 2017, the European Committee of the regions launched the #CohesionAlliance in partnership with the leading associations of regions and cities – Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and EUROCITIES  – to raise awareness about the vital role of cohesion policy. Since its launch, the Alliance's declaration has been signed by more than 12 000 individual signatories, 121 regions, 135 cities and counties, 50 associations of regional and local governments, 40 Members of the European Parliament and 35 EU sectoral associations.

    • REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down certain transitional provisions for the support by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and by the European Agricultural Guarant[...]

    Retrieved on: 
    Monday, May 11, 2020
    Europe, Organizations, Continents, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Economy of the European Union, Regulation, European Union, European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

    Regarding the new commitments to be undertaken form 2021 the period to be determined in the rural development programme may last four years instead of three.

    Key Points: 
    • Regarding the new commitments to be undertaken form 2021 the period to be determined in the rural development programme may last four years instead of three.
    • The adaptation of the provisions of the CMO with regard to the extension of rules by inter-branch organizations in OR's is added.
    • The derogation ensures the preservation of local production, industries, and jobs in markets that are extremely limited in terms of opportunities.
    • Finally, the committee reaffirms the position expressed by the EP in its resolution of 14 November 2018 on the MFF.
    • Accordingly, Member States are to draw up CAP Strategic Plans, which are to be approved by the Commission and implemented by Member States.
    • Under the new legal framework, the Union is to set the policy parameters, such as objectives of the CAP and basic requirements.
    • A strong Union framework is essential to ensuring that the CAP remains a common policy and to guarantee a level playing field.
    • Member States will also have greater responsibility on how they meet the objectives and achieve targets.
    • 8 Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487).
    • 8 Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 487).
    • The extended programmes should aim at maintaining at least the same overall level of environment and climate ambition.
    • The extended programmes should aim at maintaining at least the same overall level of environment and climate ambition.
    • (8)Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 lays down common rules applicable to the EAFRD and some other Funds, which operate under a common framework.
    • __________________ __________________ 18 Regulation (EU) / of the European Parliament and of the Council [CAP Strategic Plan] (OJ L , , p. ).
    • 18 Regulation (EU) / of the European Parliament and of the Council [CAP Strategic Plan] (OJ L , , p. ).
    • (20)The EAFRD should be able to support Community-led local development set up in accordance with the new rules laid down by Regulation (EU) XXXX/XXXX [New CPR].
    • (24)Article 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 allows Member States to transfer funds between direct payments and rural development as regards calendar years 2014 to 2020.
    • The CAP Strategic Plan Regulation (EU) / [CAP Strategic Plan Regulation] allows Member States to implement a basic income support with the same modalities, i.e.
    • (30)Article 36 of Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 provides the application of the single area payment scheme (SAPS) until 31 December 2020.
    • The CAP Strategic Plan Regulation (EU) / [CAP Strategic Plan Regulation] allows Member States to implement a basic income support with the same modalities, i.e.
    • 19 Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 of 20 September 2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (OJ L 277, 21.10.2005, p. 1).
    • 3.The support programmes in the wine sector referred to in Article 40 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 shall end on 15 October 2023.
    • ; For new commitments to be undertaken from 2021, Member States shall determine a period of one to four yearsin their rural development programmes.
    • ; For new commitments to be undertaken as from 2021 Member States shall determine a shorter period of one to four years in their rural development programmes.
    • ; Amendment58 Proposal for a regulation
      Article 10 paragraph 1 point 3
      Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 Article 15a Text proposed by the Commission