EU local and regional leaders: 'Simplification must not lead to centralisation'

The European Committee of the Regions has warned that planned reforms to the European Union's long-term budget could complicate – rather than simplify – how the EU operates. 

In an opinion adopted on 11 December and fast-tracked at the request of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the EU's local and regional assembly stressed that current efforts to advance the EU's 'simplification agenda must not lead to centralisation of the EU, must not simply mean deregulation, and must not lead to "reductionism" in EU policies or in existing legal standards.

The rapporteur-general, Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim (PL/EA), mayor of Sopot, said: "Simplification can never mean centralisation." Referring to reform proposals presented by the European Commission in July, Ms Czarzyńska-Jachim said: "Merging European funds into one mega-fund that is governed by national governments without local and regional involvement will not result in simplification. On the contrary, it will lead to less democratic oversight, less flexibility, and less effectiveness."

The opinion argues that simplification measures should be applied to the EU’s entire political and decision-making system, including the law-making process, as well as rules on the management of funds and programmes.

The opinion says that, to effectively implement the simplification agenda, local and regional authorities must play a greater political role in EU decision-making processes since simplification raises questions about subsidiarity – how competences are divided between local, national and EU levels of government. As compliance with the subsidiarity principle should be monitored, the opinion argues that the CoR should be formally involved in trilogue meetings between the EU's decision-making institutions: the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union.

The CoR's recommendations are underpinned by its support for flexible place-based approaches that reflect regional and local circumstances, its advocacy of partnership in the management of EU funds, and its view that simplifying rules is crucial for competitiveness.

Quote:

Rapporteur-general Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim (PL/EA), mayor of Sopot: "Simplification is not about deregulation. It is about making the lives of citizens, businesses and organisations easier, by providing a regulatory framework within which they can thrive. Rules must enable them, not hold them back. Local and regional governments implement more than 70% of EU legislation. They are therefore the experts on how legislation affects citizens, businesses and organisations on the ground. It is therefore necessary to fully include local and regional authorities in the Simplification Agenda. We have the knowledge, the expertise and the knowhow. Now it is up to the EU to use it." 

Background:

• Opinion: A factsheet on the opinion 'Cities' and regions' contribution to the simplification agenda' can be found on the CoR's website. 

• Recording and photos: A recording of the debate can be found on CoR's dedicated webpage for the plenary session. Photos are available on the CoR's Flickr page. 

• Simplification agenda: Further information available on the website of the European Commission.