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The Director General for Development of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Theodosis Tsiolas, represented the Minister of Finance, Mr Konstantinos Petridis, at the meeting of the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, held in Rouen, France, on 1 March 2022.
The agenda of the meeting included an exchange of views in relation to the 8th Cohesion Policy Progress Report, which is prepared every three years with a twofold objective: to assess the progress and results of the Cohesion Policy, but also to start a discussion on the challenges and needs that the European Cohesion Policy Funds will have to face and meet in the future.
The European Commissioner mentioned important elements from the Progress Report in relation to the economic impact of Cohesion Policy on the regions of the European Union, which confirms the process of convergence and greater cohesion between them.
Ministers pointed out the need for Cohesion Policy, the main European public investment policy, to remain modern in order to face the challenges for the benefit of European citizens. In addition, the need for further flexibility and simplification of procedures to achieve EU policy objectives was underlined. The main new challenges highlighted were the risks of energy poverty, the demographic challenges of an ageing population and urbanisation, and the risk of delaying the digital transition.
With regard to the green transition, the ministers reaffirmed their intention to focus and maintain this priority as a frontline of Cohesion Policy. They assured that they would take appropriate measures to limit the impact on EU citizens and businesses.
Furthermore, Ministers welcomed the possibility, especially during the pandemic period, to use the Cohesion Policy Funds to address the consequences of the crisis.
Finally, all European Ministers expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people and wished for an end to Russian aggression.
The Director General for Development pointed out that for Cyprus, the Cohesion Policy and the Recovery and Resilience Fund are at this stage the driving forces of public investment. He underlined that the challenges are also opportunities to modernise our economies into climate-neutral ones, with adequate connectivity and full respect for citizens.
Further, he underlined the need for Cohesion Policy to continue to benefit and serve all regions of the European Union. Particular emphasis was also placed on reducing bureaucracy and administrative costs in the management and implementation of Cohesion Policy funds through the integration of different European instruments and funds with similar objectives. Finally, the need to speed up the process of adopting Cohesion Policy programmes and to intensify negotiations and consultations between the European Commission and the Member States.
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