Cohesion policy

'The future cohesion policy must be more decentralized, better targeted and simpler". These are in essence the conclusions of the third cohesion policy forum that was held in Brussels on 10/11 May 2004.

 

At the closing of the forum, regional policy commissioner Jacques Barrot recommended a more decentralized cohesion policy with a greater involvement of Europe's regions and municipalities. However, he stressed that such policy must respect the institutional systems existing in each member state. 'I have heard your call for integrating local and regional specificities in a diversified Union", he said. 'Diversity makes Europe richer and contributes to its unity".
 

Delegates also called for a better-targeted cohesion policy that would focus on 'more than a third of Europe's population from less developed areas", in a reference to the convergence priority. Jacques Barrot called for strengthening inter regional, transnational and cross border cooperation as a way to 'erase the scars of the past, to bring people together and to build Europe".

 

The third call was for a simpler cohesion policy. The future policy should offer 'programmes made one and only one financial source, a more strategic programmation with better focused priorities, a simpler, decentralized but stricter financial management, as well as the adjunction of the principle of proportionality".

 

The Forum brought together over 1000 delegates from the twenty-five Member States of the Union. Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Medgyessy; Czech Prime Minister, Vladimír Å pidla; French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier as well as national and regional government officials took the floor. The contributions of a wide range of players on the reform of the cohesion policy were collected; they will be translated into proposals for a new regulatory framework next July.