In a meeting in Valencia (Spain), members
of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) underlined that the future financing instruments
should ensure a balanced territorial development across Europe, whilst
also respecting subsidiary and multi-level governance principles.
President Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (ES/EPP) stressed that "the added value of the European cross border networks in transport, energy and telecommunications requires a credible budget for the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020". "Citizens and local and regional authorities do not seem to understand that European cross border networks and cohesion policy, which largely financed those projects, will see its resources reduced under the pressure of future budget reductions," he added. The main objective of the new financial tools included in this mechanism is not only to achieve the highest EU added value, but to also generate the maximum benefit for cities, regions and citizens.
The seminar, organised by the Commission on Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER) at the CoR, focused on "the impact and leverage effect on territorial cohesion of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)". The event took place at a key moment, when the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 is being negotiated between EU institutions. In that respect the European Parliament Plenary, that could influence the final Council decision on MFF by adopting a public position, voted on 23rd October an interim report drafted by Reimer Böge (DE/EPP) and Ivailo Kalfin (BG/S&D). In this report the two co-rapporteurs request an increase in the funding available for the Union programmes in the fields of competitiveness, SMEs and infrastructures, specially through the Connecting Europe Facility. This position is also shared by the CoR.
The meeting in Valencia served to analyse how the new funding mechanisms of the CEF can be implemented in order to better mobilise private financing and to obtain the desired leverage in the future.
Marek Woźniak (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Wielkopolska region and new Chair of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion (COTER) in the Committee of the Regions, recalled the importance of this new instrument and said that "cities and regions are looking with great hope at the new instrument, which will enable us to invest in key infrastructure in the areas of transport, broadband and energy, as well as boost Europe's competitiveness in these times of economic and social crisis". "It is imperative to follow the multi-level governance priorities and to include regional and local authorities in all stages of the decision-making and implementation process," he added.
The President of the Valencia region and CoR member, Alberto Fabra Part (ES/EPP), who hosted the seminar, highlighted the "need for interconnectivity between the regions and cities of the European Union" and to "keep working and set deadlines to promote future proposals with public-private financing".
The seminar also included the participation of Ivan ®agar (SI/EPP), Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica and rapporteur of the CoR opinion on the Connecting Europe Facility. This opinion, which was adopted during the July CoR Plenary Session, welcomed the Commission's proposal, evaluating it as the most innovative financing instrument included in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, aiming to ensure the highest leverage effect of public spending and to deliver higher added value for EU citizens.
The opening session in Valencia was followed by three debate workshops. The first of those focused on the main features of the new financing instrument, whereas in the second workshop, the participants debated the possibilities offered by the CEF to mobilise private financing and promote public-private partnerships. Finally, in the third workshop, discussions took place on how infrastructure projects in diverse fields can contribute to achieving the goal of economic, social and territorial cohesion for all regions in Europe.
Notes to
editor
In October 2011, the European Commission proposed the Connecting
Europe Facility as the new financial instrument to finance
infrastructures in the fields of transport, energy and telecommunication
networks. This mechanism is designed to be the main tool in implementing the
European infrastructure policy in the next programming period 2014-2020.
Author: Committee of the Regions
Photo: Committee of the Regions
