Danuta Huebner w Parlamencie Europejskim

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Profesor Danuta Hübner przewodniczyła dwudniowemu posiedzeniu Komisji ds. Rozwoju Regionalnego, 2-3 czerwca., 03 czerwca 2010

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Profesor Danuta Hübner przewodniczyła dwudniowemu posiedzeniu Komisji ds. Rozwoju Regionalnego, w czasie, którego przyjęto trzy sprawozdania: Seana Kelly, nt. wkładu finansowego UE do Międzynarodowego Funduszu na rzecz Irlandii, Rodi Kratsa, nt. wkładu polityki regionalnej UE w zwalczanie kryzysu finansowego i gospodarczego, ze specjalnym odniesieniem do Celu 2 oraz sprawozdanie Wojciecha Olejniczaka, nt. strategii UE dla regionu Morza Bałtyckiego i roli makroregionów w przyszłej polityce spójności.

W czasie posiedzenia odbyła się dyskusja z udziałem Michaela Schneidera, z Komitetu Regionów nt. przyszłości polityki spójności. Taka sama dyskusja odbyla się z udzialem zaproszonych ekspertów.

Poniżej, komunikat prasowy DG ds. Prasy w Komisji ds. Rozwoju Regionalnego:

EU Cohesion Policy crucial to help regions overcome crisis
2-3.06.2010

Regional Developement

MEPs stressed the prime importance of EU regional funds - such as the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund - in putting areas worst hit by the economic crisis back on the road to recovery. In a report adopted today by the Regional Development committee, members said a more flexible access to funds would make a decisive contribution towards sustainable growth and jobs, by allowing regions to benefit from greater investments in infrastructure, support for SMEs, professional training, R&D and modernisation of industrial and rural sectors.

As the main source of public investment at regional and local level, EU regional policy is "not only a way to immediately 'damp down' the negative economic and social effects of the crisis, but is also a long-term policy for combating the structural problems revealed and created by the crisis, particularly as regards competitiveness and employment" in areas lagging behind in their development, states the report drafted by Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP, Greece). "Given the EU’s lack of effective mechanisms for economic coordination and balanced growth, cohesion policy, through the Structural Funds and other actions, is of prime importance."

EU funds most needed in regions worst hit by the crisis

Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou's report focuses on the importance of maintaining and improving EU aid to "Objective 2" regions, i.e. those areas in EU Member States, old and new, facing economic difficulties as a result of profound structural changes in their economies: industrial areas with high unemployment, rural areas faced with population decline, poorer urban areas with high unemployment and crime rates, and fisheries areas. In the period 2007-2013, EU support for the economic and social conversion of these areas will amount to €54.7 billion and benefit 314 million people in 168 regions.

Thanks to EU regional aid, these regions have gained steadily in productivity and employment rates, catching up on EU averages. But the 2008/2009 economic crisis hit them hard, exacerbating their structural and competitive disadvantages. Faster and easier access to EU funds is therefore sorely needed to help these regions continue to invest in their future.

Flexibility of funds must continue

MEPs call for greater flexibility in the allocation of EU funds to help regions face the specific challenges posed by the crisis, particularly in Objective 2 areas. Recent measures aimed at speeding up the implementation of cohesion policy programmes are a step in the right direction, they say. "It is particularly important that the strategic approach of flexibility continues", states the rapporteur, Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropulou.

In May, the European Parliament backed faster and simplified procedures and requirements for the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund (amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006.) See press release.

Support for SMEs

MEPs welcome EU support measures for small and medium companies under the cohesion policy (approximately €55 billion is allocated for business undertakings between 2007 and 2013). The measures, aimed at fostering innovation, technology transfer and the modernisation of SMEs, "must be targeted at long-term restructuring" of undertakings and the transition to a more sustainable economy, not at "fire-fighting interventions for economic survival", the report states.

Mrs Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou's own-initiative report on the Contribution of EU regional policy towards fighting the financial and economic crisis, with a special reference to Objective 2, was adopted in the committee on Regional Development by 42 votes in favour, no votes against, and 2 abstentions.

Other reports adopted today in the Regional Development Committee:

Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region

The Regional Development committee also adopted today an own-initiative report on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. Mr Wojciech Michał Olejniczak's report (S&D, Poland) stresses the need for greater participation of regional and local actors in the implementation of the strategy. It calls for more rational and effective use of the financial resources available for environmental protection and the development of the region, both from EU and national funds as well as from other international financial institutions. More specifically, the report underlines that an effective and environmentally friendly transport and communication network should be a priority for the region.

The Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is the first, and so far the only, attempt to create a complex common development strategy for a "macro-region" - a cross-border region with common development goals or problems. The four pillars of the Strategy, steered by the European Commission and aimed at making better use of Community programmes and national policies, are the following:

- protection of the environment,
- enhancing the region’s prosperity,
- increasing accessibility and attractiveness, and
- ensuring safety and security in the region.

EU financial contributions to the International Fund for Ireland (2007-2010)

Mr Seán Kelly's (EPP, Ireland) report (co-decision, 1st reading) confirms the prolongation of the fund until December 2010 and ensures that payment for projects financed by the fund will be made up until 2013.

The International Fund for Ireland was established in 1986 by the Irish and British governments to promote cross-community projects in support of the peace process in Northern Ireland. It receives €60m in funds from the EU.

One amongst many projects funded by the IFI is "Football4Peace", which brings young people from different communities together, using football as a means to promote good relations through cross-border and cross-community partnerships. The IFI provides financial assistance of €527,954 for this project.

The report was adopted by 41 votes in favour, no votes against, and 1 abstention. The European Parliament will vote on the report in plenary (Strasbourg) on the 16th of June.

In the chair: Danuta Hübner (EPP, Poland).

Contact:
François ARNAUD
Press Room Unit
: region-press@europarl.europa.eu
: (32) 498 98 32 83
: (32-2) 28 32379 (BXL)

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