Local leaders warn against the risk of losing
available resources and call for fast-tracking
the Just Transition Fund.
With a set of opinions adopted at its plenary
session, the European Committee of the Regions
(CoR) recalled the paramount role of cohesion
policy in reducing disparities between EU regions
while helping the Union to achieve a just
transition, reducing the dependence from fossil
fuels and becoming more energy independent. The
ongoing war against Ukraine and the energy crisis
accentuated even more the need for a strong
cohesion in Europe, while the COVID-19 pandemic
demonstrated that the urgent actions at the EU,
national, regional and local level are needed to
ensure digital cohesion between territories.
Cohesion policy has successfully demonstrated its
flexibility and effectiveness in showing support in
unforeseen crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and
the ongoing war against Ukraine. However, it is
essential to keep cohesion policy as the main EU
investment tool aiming at fighting inequalities in
Europe and a growing digital divide through stable and
predictable multi-annual investment plans. This
long-term strategic role of cohesion policy should be
preserved, so that it can contribute to more solidarity
in the EU. To this end, the CoR also supports the full
implementation of the principle "do not harm cohesion",
which is in line with the concept of "cohesion as a fundamental value" defended by the Committee, and calls on the European
Commission to work closely with the CoR in defining it.
These were the messages delivered by local and regional
leaders during the October plenary session of the CoR,
which took place during the 20th edition of the
European Week of Regions and Cities
.
CoR members highlighted the unique approach of cohesion
policy, based on an analysis of territorial needs
established at regional and local level which follows a
fully participatory and democratic process, contrary to
the national recovery plans supported by the
Recovery and Resilience Facility
(RRF), which were largely designed without the
involvement of the regions, as highlighted by the CoR
EU Annual Report on the State of the Regions
and Cities, published on 11 October. Moreover, local and regional
leaders warned against the risk of overlaps or crowding
out in the absence of a real mechanism to coordinate
between and link the RRF and cohesion policy.
In addition, the CoR calls on the EU institutions to
ensure a full digital cohesion in Europe in order to
fight inequalities between territories. The Committee
warns that the growing digital divide could increase
social and territorial inequalities because it has an
impact on services provided at local level, such as the
access to e-Health services and educational resources,
or prevent many citizens accessing to fundamental
services, i.e. the use of cashless payments or of the
electronic vote. Moreover, an increased digital
cohesion would be a tool for reversing demographic
decline in inland, rural and mountainous areas.
The success of a just environmental transition for all
regions in Europe will also be crucial to avoid
increasing inequalities between communities. The
offensive war launched by Russia in February 2022 has
made the just transition more difficult and yet more
urgent, thus the € 19,3 billion
Just Transition Fund
(JTF) programme planning should be stepped up in order
to mobilise funding in a timely manner. The financing
of the RRF was made available within the space of one
year, local leaders pointed out, while the European
Commission and the Member States have been working on
the JTF for almost three years. If the JTF programme is
not up and running in 2022, there is a risk of losing
the full year allocation of 25% of the available funds.
Nathalie Sarrabezolles
(FR/PES),
rapporteur
on the 8th Cohesion Report, stated: "Today, more than ever, we need cohesion policy,
probably to alleviate the effects of the crises we
are going through, but above all to reduce
inequalities within our continent. Indeed, the
Cohesion Report shows that some regions are lagging
behind in development. Let's call on the solutions
of the future to restart the convergence process in
Europe."
Gaetano Armao
(IT/EPP),
rapporteur
on digital cohesion, said: “Digital cohesion must be introduced as an important
additional dimension of the traditional concept of
economic, social and territorial cohesion into the
EU Treaty. This is key since citizens empowered
with connectivity and digital skills can offer
significant value to their communities. The digital
gap, is not recognised formally as a threat to the
EU’s cohesion. A public debate on how to close the
innovation and digital gap is necessary and should
be focused on achieving a clear understanding of
the "Digital Cohesion" concept, which calls for the
recognition of the essential role that technology
plays in our life, and requires the integration of
the Cohesion objectives (set out in the EU Treaty)
in the digital rights, principles and policies of
the Union."
Sari Rautio
(FI/EPP),
rapporteur
of the opinion on the "Just and sustainable transition
in the context of the coal and energy intensive
regions", said: "The war in Europe has made the just transition more
urgent. I think in the crucial transition to a
low-carbon society, has to put in focus the
different needs of citizens, by creating new jobs
and skills. The energy sector, industries, the
manufacturing sector and SMEs are struggling, that
is why it is important to support industry's
ambitions to become carbon-neutral. The JTF can
play a role in achieving this goal. The search for
the most effective means will only succeed when
regions and cities are genuinely involved in all
stages of planning and implementation. And at the
same time – we must get the machine working!"
Background:
The 8th Cohesion Report
was published on 9 February by the European Commission.
It shows both positive and negative trends in EU
regions, cities and rural areas: less developed regions
have been catching up, but that many transition regions
have been stuck in a development trap. Furthermore, the
growing innovation divide will make it harder for both
types of region to catch up. The European Parliament
adopted its position on the 8th Cohesion report few weeks ago.
As part of the European Green Deal, the Just Transition
Mechanism (JTM) was set up to help regions most
affected by the transition towards a climate-neutral
economy. It includes the Just Transition Fund (JTF),
which will invest around €19 billion in the 2021-2027
period in these territories. JTF allocation for member
states can be consulted
here.
Together with the leading European associations of
cities and regions, the CoR is a founding partner of
the #CohesionAlliance, to affirm cohesion as a
fundamental value of the European Union and a key
objective for all its policies and investment. More
information
here.
Contact:
Matteo Miglietta
Tel. +32 (0) 470 89 53 82
matteo.miglietta@cor.europa.eu