Ochrana európskych regiónov pred otrasmi: zlepšenie miestnej a regionálnej ekonomickej odolnosti v strategickom vývoji jednotného trhu
Opinion factsheet
Na tejto stránke
- podnikanie a priemysel
- Single market
- hospodárstvo a financie
Opinion number:
CDR-1340-2024
Status:
Prijaté
Objective
The objective of this own-initiative opinion is to enable the creation of more dedicated, robust and agile mechanisms to better empower regions to withstand/adapt to and recover from sudden economic shocks, through a strategic reevaluation of existing policy and funding instruments and their mechanisms in the Single Market.
Regions remain at a greater risk of experiencing drastic consequences of economic shocks. Shocks significantly impact the performance of local and regional businesses and the economic wellbeing of local and regional citizens, while they also exacerbate the uneven development of regional economies, which poses multifaceted challenges for the future of the Single Market.
The opinion's aim is to call for new, targeted support mechanisms for capacity-building, more adaptive/agile regulatory frameworks increasingly tailored to the challenges faced by regions in times of economic turbulence, and the integration of specific resilience-building criteria into existing funding instruments. It serves to embrace specific needs of LRAs in strengthening regional economic resilience, helping promote the expertise of local and regional authorities in the handling of economic shocks, allowing regions to inspire each other through concrete resilience-building initiatives and practices.
Regions remain at a greater risk of experiencing drastic consequences of economic shocks. Shocks significantly impact the performance of local and regional businesses and the economic wellbeing of local and regional citizens, while they also exacerbate the uneven development of regional economies, which poses multifaceted challenges for the future of the Single Market.
The opinion's aim is to call for new, targeted support mechanisms for capacity-building, more adaptive/agile regulatory frameworks increasingly tailored to the challenges faced by regions in times of economic turbulence, and the integration of specific resilience-building criteria into existing funding instruments. It serves to embrace specific needs of LRAs in strengthening regional economic resilience, helping promote the expertise of local and regional authorities in the handling of economic shocks, allowing regions to inspire each other through concrete resilience-building initiatives and practices.
Impact
On 7 November 2024, the rapporteur met with representatives of the Hetfà research insitute.
The meeting was organised as part of the ESPON 'TERRES' project "Territorialising Resilience: Transforming Europe for an Age of Crisis", for which Hetfà is the contractor. This project focuses on developing a new concept of territorial resilience, a related policy framework and an assessment tool: the Regional Resilience Dashboard (RRD). The main objective of the RRD is to provide stakeholders with effective tools and insights to assess and improve territorial resilience in European regions.
During the meeting, the rapporteur conveyed the needs and the resilience challenges local and regional authorities face, as set out in the opinion. The CoR's insights could help ensure that the RRD meets real-world needs and effectively supports territorial resilience.
The project is scheduled to be completed by mid 2025.
On 13 December 2024, the rapporteur met with representatives from the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC), to discuss the progress of the JRC on the development of RRDs in the context of the EC's policy making. The possibility to focus the RRDs on specific vulnerabilities of borde regions was discussed, as well as the need to integrate capacity based policy goals with a territorial dimension and comprehensive security indicators. The use of NUTS 2 vs NUTS 3 data was also discussed.
A JRC report on this topic is due in April 2025.
On 3 April 2025, the European Commission issued its follow-up to the opinion.
The Commission highlight its efforts to improve the competitiveness of SMEs, digital transformation, and green transitions as key drivers of resilience. It refers to the 9th Cohesion Report, asserting that through support for SMEs, cohesion policy has boosted local economies and attractiveness by improving innovation and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the Commission recalls its SME Relief Package, and recalls is proposals to simplify tax compliance and reducing late payments, while promoting digitalization.
The Commission also refers to the Think Small First principle and the SME tests, which form part of impact assessments, and are aimed at ensuring that SMEs are considered in EU policymaking. It states that tools like the Single Digital Gateway and InvestEU are also there to support SMEs by providing easier access to finance and resources, helping them adapt and strengthen resilience in regional economies. In addition, the social economy action plan, adopted in 2021, also aims to enhance social innovation, support the development of the social economy and boost its social and economic transformative power. Furthermore, the transition pathway on the proximity and social economy, launched in 2022, aims to maximise the contribution of its entities, among which social economy businesses, to support the transformation to a more sustainable, digital, resilient and globally competitive economy.
According to the Commission, the Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) foster the development of strategic technologies. Furthermore, the Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership strategy aims at providing relevant materials for sectors such as clean energy, construction, and electronics, ensuring that Europe remains competitive and sustainable. The Commission also mentions the cohesion funds and InvestEU in this context.
The Commission also refers to the cohesion funds and the EAFRD, as well as the Just Transition Fund that finance the diversification and modernisation of regional economies and says these funds will continue in the coming years to support the resilience and diversification of regional economies, building adaptability to technological change and upskilling the labour force.
According to the Commission, the ESF+ and the ERDF provide targeted support for job creation, business development, and digital infrastructure. The Commission's own initiative on Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions, strives to offer tailor-made, place-based and multi-dimensional solutions. The Commission also refers to intiatives like LEADER and SMART VILLAGES under the EAFRD offer mentorship, training, and funding access to equip young entrepreneurs with the digital skills needed in today’s economy. Instruments like the ESF+ and Erasmus+, aim at helping young people to build financial resilience and Improve financial literacy in vulnerable regions. Additionally, the Commission mentions that the European Investment Fund (EIF) and InvestEU provide financial resources and training to empower young entrepreneurs to manage investments and make informed financial decisions. Still according to the Commission, the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP) aims to bridge regional divides and boost digital skills across Europe.
The Commission says shares the CoR’s concern for vulnerable regions, including border and demographically challenged areas. It refers to the Trans-European Transport Network that modernising railways and waterways to enhance efficient, low-emission transport, and the Connecting Europe Facility that supports border regions by improving their connectivity and accessibility through investments in transport, digital, and energy infrastructure. According to the Commission, the ERDF supports border regions by promoting cross-border cooperation and connectivity, reducing economic and social disparities, and enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses.
The Commission refers to initiatives aimed at strengthening the EU's external borders, such as the Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument, which provides financial support integrated border management at the external borders.
According to the Commission, the European Economic Security Strategy will help strengthening resilience against risks related to certain economic flows and dependencies by assessing critical sectors such as supply chains, technology, infrastructure and economic coercion.
Still according to the Commission, the Resilience Dashboards track vulnerabilities across sectors to improve response capabilities. It also say that the upcoming regional resilience dashboards could be integrated into the European Semester’s Spring Package, ensuring timely alignment with existing frameworks for regional resilience.
The Commission also mentions how previous initiatives, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Temporary Framework for State Aid and the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework allowed for support to crisis affected regions.
Furthermore, the Commission encourages procurement practices that support regional resilience and underlines public procurement policies could be reviewed to help ensure EU added value, along with security of supply for vital technologies, products and services. Finally, the Commission mentions that territorial impact assessments ensure that policies consider their effects on regional resilience, safeguarding vulnerable areas.
The meeting was organised as part of the ESPON 'TERRES' project "Territorialising Resilience: Transforming Europe for an Age of Crisis", for which Hetfà is the contractor. This project focuses on developing a new concept of territorial resilience, a related policy framework and an assessment tool: the Regional Resilience Dashboard (RRD). The main objective of the RRD is to provide stakeholders with effective tools and insights to assess and improve territorial resilience in European regions.
During the meeting, the rapporteur conveyed the needs and the resilience challenges local and regional authorities face, as set out in the opinion. The CoR's insights could help ensure that the RRD meets real-world needs and effectively supports territorial resilience.
The project is scheduled to be completed by mid 2025.
On 13 December 2024, the rapporteur met with representatives from the European Commission's Joint Research Center (JRC), to discuss the progress of the JRC on the development of RRDs in the context of the EC's policy making. The possibility to focus the RRDs on specific vulnerabilities of borde regions was discussed, as well as the need to integrate capacity based policy goals with a territorial dimension and comprehensive security indicators. The use of NUTS 2 vs NUTS 3 data was also discussed.
A JRC report on this topic is due in April 2025.
On 3 April 2025, the European Commission issued its follow-up to the opinion.
The Commission highlight its efforts to improve the competitiveness of SMEs, digital transformation, and green transitions as key drivers of resilience. It refers to the 9th Cohesion Report, asserting that through support for SMEs, cohesion policy has boosted local economies and attractiveness by improving innovation and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the Commission recalls its SME Relief Package, and recalls is proposals to simplify tax compliance and reducing late payments, while promoting digitalization.
The Commission also refers to the Think Small First principle and the SME tests, which form part of impact assessments, and are aimed at ensuring that SMEs are considered in EU policymaking. It states that tools like the Single Digital Gateway and InvestEU are also there to support SMEs by providing easier access to finance and resources, helping them adapt and strengthen resilience in regional economies. In addition, the social economy action plan, adopted in 2021, also aims to enhance social innovation, support the development of the social economy and boost its social and economic transformative power. Furthermore, the transition pathway on the proximity and social economy, launched in 2022, aims to maximise the contribution of its entities, among which social economy businesses, to support the transformation to a more sustainable, digital, resilient and globally competitive economy.
According to the Commission, the Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme and the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) foster the development of strategic technologies. Furthermore, the Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership strategy aims at providing relevant materials for sectors such as clean energy, construction, and electronics, ensuring that Europe remains competitive and sustainable. The Commission also mentions the cohesion funds and InvestEU in this context.
The Commission also refers to the cohesion funds and the EAFRD, as well as the Just Transition Fund that finance the diversification and modernisation of regional economies and says these funds will continue in the coming years to support the resilience and diversification of regional economies, building adaptability to technological change and upskilling the labour force.
According to the Commission, the ESF+ and the ERDF provide targeted support for job creation, business development, and digital infrastructure. The Commission's own initiative on Harnessing Talent in Europe's Regions, strives to offer tailor-made, place-based and multi-dimensional solutions. The Commission also refers to intiatives like LEADER and SMART VILLAGES under the EAFRD offer mentorship, training, and funding access to equip young entrepreneurs with the digital skills needed in today’s economy. Instruments like the ESF+ and Erasmus+, aim at helping young people to build financial resilience and Improve financial literacy in vulnerable regions. Additionally, the Commission mentions that the European Investment Fund (EIF) and InvestEU provide financial resources and training to empower young entrepreneurs to manage investments and make informed financial decisions. Still according to the Commission, the Digital Decade Policy Programme (DDPP) aims to bridge regional divides and boost digital skills across Europe.
The Commission says shares the CoR’s concern for vulnerable regions, including border and demographically challenged areas. It refers to the Trans-European Transport Network that modernising railways and waterways to enhance efficient, low-emission transport, and the Connecting Europe Facility that supports border regions by improving their connectivity and accessibility through investments in transport, digital, and energy infrastructure. According to the Commission, the ERDF supports border regions by promoting cross-border cooperation and connectivity, reducing economic and social disparities, and enhancing the competitiveness of local businesses.
The Commission refers to initiatives aimed at strengthening the EU's external borders, such as the Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument, which provides financial support integrated border management at the external borders.
According to the Commission, the European Economic Security Strategy will help strengthening resilience against risks related to certain economic flows and dependencies by assessing critical sectors such as supply chains, technology, infrastructure and economic coercion.
Still according to the Commission, the Resilience Dashboards track vulnerabilities across sectors to improve response capabilities. It also say that the upcoming regional resilience dashboards could be integrated into the European Semester’s Spring Package, ensuring timely alignment with existing frameworks for regional resilience.
The Commission also mentions how previous initiatives, such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Temporary Framework for State Aid and the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework allowed for support to crisis affected regions.
Furthermore, the Commission encourages procurement practices that support regional resilience and underlines public procurement policies could be reviewed to help ensure EU added value, along with security of supply for vital technologies, products and services. Finally, the Commission mentions that territorial impact assessments ensure that policies consider their effects on regional resilience, safeguarding vulnerable areas.
Essential points
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (CoR)
underlines that some Member States have been hit harder than others by recent crises and the impact on regional economies has also been asymmetrical. Depending on their vulnerabilities, their ability to withstand and recover from shocks has proven to be very different;
calls on the next European Commission to work to strengthen the resilience dimension in its policy tools, and particularly those related to competitiveness and the Single Market, with the aim to further bolster economic resilience and long-term growth across the EU;
underlines the importance of the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle; calls for exploring, in a similar fashion, the possibility of implementing a ‘do no harm to resilience’ principle in EU policy-making;
underlines that diverse and secure supply chains, as also highlighted by the Letta Report, are critical to protect the Single Market and form the foundation of economic resilience;
in addition to boosting renewable energy production, underlines the potential of nuclear energy to increase the EU’s energy resilience and independence and to meet its decarbonisation objectives; welcomes the recognition of nuclear power as a strategic technology in the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA);
calls for increased attention to comprehensive security and security of supply across the EU;
underlines that investments in the infrastructure and accessibility of regions are critical to strengthen their economic resilience and the Single Market, and calls for enhanced consideration for specific regional vulnerabilities, such as those of the external border regions, outermost regions, and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps;
highlights the importance of resilient external land and sea border regions, as geographical gateways to the European Union, for the security and resilience of the EU and calls for this to be taken into account in future competition and cohesion policies, emphasising the importance of solidarity with EU border regions and the unique challenges they face, including those arising from irregular migration; in this context, believes that European resources for making the EU's external borders more secure should be increased.