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Public consultation shows strong support for ambitious post-2013 Cohesion Policy

Edited on

25 June 2019
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EU policies

Published by the European Commission on 18 June 2008, the fifth progress report on economic and social cohesion 'Growing regions, growing Europe' comprises in a two-part document a report on the public consultation, and an analytical report on regional economies. According to Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner 'Respondents make clear their ongoing commitment to an ambitious policy that is playing a major role in narrowing disparities across the European Union'.

"Commissioner Danuta Hübner
Cohesion Policy after 2013: Report on public consultation
Europe needs a strong Cohesion Policy after 2013. That was the consensus in the public consultation launched by the European Commission between September 2007 and February 2008 on the future of the policy. Over 100 contributions were received from national authorities (17 Member States participated, accounting for more than 80% of the EU's population), regional and local authorities, economic and social partners, academic and research institutions.
The consultation shows :

  • A consensus on need for ambitious European Cohesion Policy available to all EU regions; firm rejection of idea of re-nationalisation.
  • A call for investment to focus on European priorities such as innovation, education, support for small and medium enterprises, EU-wide infrastructure and the fight against climate change.
  • A call for stronger coordination between Cohesion Policy and other EU sectoral policies in the light of complex challenges, and, in this context, a call on the Commission to reinforce the link between Cohesion Policy and rural development policy.
  • A call for further simplification of the policy, more involvement of local and regional authorities.
  • Territorial cooperation cross-border, trans-national and interregional exchanges seen as one of the best examples of Cohesion Policy's European added value; respondents call for more resources to be allocated to it.

 

 

Economic and Social Cohesion: Situation and trends

 

 

  • Poorer regions catching up: Part Two of the report shows continued strong growth in poorer regions. Between 2000 and 2005, the Convergence regions (GDP per head under 75% of the community average) showed GDP growth per head that was 50% faster than the rest of the EU. The unemployment rate in these regions also dropped by 3 percentage points.
  • Growth in regions concentrated in knowledge-intensive sectors: The report identifies sectors with strong medium-term growth perspective both in 'Convergence' regions and regions under the 'Regional Competitiveness and Employment' objective, They are: financial and business services; trade, transport and communication; high and medium-high tech manufacturing. High-tech manufacturing is highlighted as the one manufacturing sector where the EU retains a competitive advantage. It includes manufacture of electrical and optical equipment, surgical equipment, aircraft and spacecraft and pharmaceuticals.
  • Need for more investment in innovation, education, training: In the most developed regions, the share of GDP going to Research and Development (R&D) is three times higher than in convergence regions, but 15% lower than in the United States. The European Union also invests a much lower share of its GDP in higher education: 1.2% compared to 2.9% in the US.

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