A new kind of European cooperation: macro-regional strategies
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24 June 2019On 17 and 18 September, European Commissioner Paweł Samecki attended a ministerial conference in Stockholm, Sweden on the European Union’s strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. This strategy, which is a first at European level, is set to be adopted officially by the Member States at the end of October. The 27 ministers discussed the possibility of other macro-regions following the Baltic example. On this occasion, Commissioner Samecki presented a new discussion paper on this subject that contains proposals for definitions, fields of application and objectives for other macro-regional strategies.
European Union's strategy for the Baltic Sea Region…
Ahead of the event, Commissioner Samecki said: 'Given the complexity and inter-linked nature of many of the challenges faced by the Baltic Sea region, good cooperation is a necessity. The EU's new strategy is based on a "macro-regional" approach, which strengthens synergies between different EU policies and coordinates the efforts of a wide range of stakeholders.'
Indeed, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region brings together eight Member States (Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland), who have joined forces to tackle specific challenges in the area, in particular environmental problems resulting from the high pollution levels in the Sea. Other aims include strengthening the competitiveness of the regional economy, with a focus on research and innovation, developing energy and transport links, as well as improving the region's security, especially in the maritime field. The Strategy contains a detailed action plan, comprised of 80 flagship projects in 15 priority areas, each under the responsibility of a 'lead country' or other partners (such as federations of farmers, Innovation Centres, Nordic Council of Ministers etc).
A new model for regional cooperation?
The 27 Ministers debated the prospect of other macro-regions following the Baltic lead. They also had a first opportunity to reflect on a new policy paper on the issue, which was presented to the conference by Commissioner Samecki.
This document proposes possible definitions, scope and objectives for other macro-regional strategies, drawing lessons from the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.It is explained in the document's conclusion that a macro-regional strategy can provide a useful structure and approach for addressing the challenges and opportunities of a region. The question of whether macro-regions, defined as 'an area inclusind territory from a number of different countries or regions associated with one or more common features or challenges' could become an important medium for programming and delivering EU funding may well be a key issue in the broader debate on the future EU Cohesion Policy post-2013.
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