The debate on the future of EU Cohesion Policy was launched in 2001 together with the presentation by the European Commission of its Second Report on economic and social cohesion. The policy needs to undergo important adjustments in order to better respond to the challenges of EU enlargement as well as the objectives of enhancing the overall competitiveness of the EU linked with the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas.
The debate involved a broad scope of actors at regional, national and European level who have had the opportunity to exchange their views at the forums on economic and social cohesion launched by the Commission as well as during the informal ministerial meetings in Chalkidiki, Rome and port Laoise. Discussions showed a broad consensus in favour of an ambitious and credible cohesion policy.
On the 18th of February 2004 the Commission adopted its Third Report on economic and social cohesion entitled A partnership for cohesion: convergence, competitiveness and cooperation in which it presented the guidelines for the reform of EU cohesion policy in the next financial perspective 2007-2013.
The Commission’s Report together with the Communication on the new financial perspective constitute an important step in the debate. Further consultations of the Commission’s proposals (i.e. At the Third Cohesion Forum in May 2004) will lead to the elaboration in June/July 2004 of the first draft of EU legislation on post-2006 structural funds principles. The process of negotiations shall be finished with the adoption by the EU Council of the policy framework and appropriate legal acts till the end of 2005.
Poland becoming soon an important EU funds beneficiary participates actively in the debate. The position on the future of EU cohesion policy was adopted in October 2003 in which Poland supported the maintenance of a high profile of the cohesion policy as fundamental for the European Community. The cohesion policy was incorporated into the treaty of Rome as well as into the other treaties and therefore the measures related to economic and social cohesion are correctly perceived as one of the basic field of intervention at the community level. This is a positive-sum game that brings benefits to all countries of the European Union in the form of faster economic growth and increased competitiveness. The fact that the significant amount of the structural funds and Cohesion Fund is transferred back to the most wealthy countries and regions in the frame of provision of goods and services contributes to this process. Therefore, it is in the interest of the whole Europe to support the development of regions and countries as it contributes to the implementation of the strategic objectives of the Lisbon Strategy
Poland will soon respond to the latest proposals of the European Commission’s Third Cohesion Report and the new financial perspective.
Third Report on EU Social and Economic Cohesion >>
Communication from the Commission to the Counciland the European Parliament - Building our common Future, Policy challenges andBudgetary means of the Enlarged Union 2007-2013 >>