Ceardlann
25-01-2018 09:45
Workshop on the 7th Cohesion Report
On Thursday, 25 January 2018 at 9:45, the REGI Committee will hold a Workshop on the 7th Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion. The 7th Cohesion Report was published by the Commission beginning of October 2017 and it is a key document in the context of the upcoming reform of the European Union Cohesion Policy for the next programming period. REGI also decided to draw up an initiative report, in order to deliver Parliament's position ahead of this reform (Rapp. Mr Joulaud (EPP)).
The subjects under discussion focus mainly on two questions, also pointed out in the Commission's communication, namely: (1) Where should cohesion policy invest? (2) What should the investment priorities be?
The experts will explore several pertinent questions about the future development path of different EU territories, presenting themes such as the middle income trap, urban dimension of cohesion policy and urban agenda, relations between urban-rural areas, as well as the balance between European priorities and territorial needs. Experience from the ground (both national and regional level) will put theory into a more practical perspective, including the difficulties associated to the complexity of the policy and the lessons learned in relation to the new territorial tools introduced in this programming period.
12-07-2017 09:15
Workshop on EU macro-regional strategies
On 12 July 2017 the REGI Committee held a Workshop on EU macro-regional strategies.
- Draft programme - Workshop on EU macro-regional strategies (PDF - 15 KB)
- Presentation - Professor Stefan Gänzle, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway (PDF - 719 KB)
- Presentation - Justė Jarmulkaitė, EUBSR Expert, EU Cohesion Policy Division Ministry of Finance of the Republic Lithuania (PDF - 679 KB)
- Presentation - Félix Moldován, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (PDF - 762 KB)
- Presentation - Dr. Nicola Favia, Director – Office of Research, Analysis and Knowledge Management, Department for Cohesion Policy, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy (PDF - 1 MB)
19-06-2017 15:15
Workshop on Cohesion Policy and Climate Change
This workshop scrutinizes how ESI Funds have contributed to tackle climate related challenges and at the same time provides input to ongoing work (initiative report) in REGI that analyses the role of cities and regions in this context. A study on "Cohesion policy and Paris Agreement targets" has been commissioned and will be presented during the workshop. The speakers come from the Un-Habitat, the European Environmental Agency and the Managing Authority of a transnational cooperation programme.
Cohesion policy clearly has had a role to play in tackling climate change (e.g. support to energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, research and development, sustainable urban mobility, etc.), and this aspect has been reinforced in policy architecture during the 2014-20 programming period (horizontal principle of sustainable development and the methodology to track support for climate change objectives, as laid down in article 8 of the Common Provisions Regulation; and thematic concentration rules together with provisions in the Common Strategic Framework). Addressing the climate challenge is also a reoccurring theme in the urban dimension of cohesion policy (due to the important role played by cities and urban areas in this context).
- Programme - Workshop on Cohesion Policy and Climate Change (PDF - 15 KB)
- Study on Cohesion Policy and Paris Agreement Targets (PDF - 1 MB)
- Presentation - Martin Nesbit, Head of Climate and Environmental Governance Programme, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) (PDF - 1 MB)
- Presentation - Rafael Tuts, Director of Programme Division, UN-Habitat (PDF - 1 MB)
- Presentation - Aleksandra Kazmierczak, project manager climate change adaptation, European Environment Agency (PDF - 1 MB)
- Presentation - Christiane Breznik, Head of the Managing Authority, City of Vienna, Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE (PDF - 1 MB)
06-02-2017 15:15
Workshop on Technical Assistance in Cohesion Policy
This in-depth analysis, requested by the European Parliament’s REGI Committee, focuses on technical assistance (TA) activities at the initiative of the Commission (EC) (Article 58 of the Common Provision Regulation or CPR ) and aims to shed some light on the historical background of its principles and implementation, as well as on the current relationship with the management of TA activities when a Member State is facing temporary budgetary difficulties (Article 25 of the CPR).
24-01-2017 10:30
Workshop on Building blocks of a future EU cohesion policy - first reflections
On Tuesday, 24 January 2017, the workshop on “Building blocks of a future EU cohesion policy - first reflections” took place during the REGI committee meeting. It was linked to an ongoing REGI own-initiative report about the post 2020 cohesion policy whose rapporteur is Ms Kerstin Westphal (S&D). The aim of this workshop was to provide input to the Committee on Regional development and to the Rapporteur and to trigger reflections about the next generation of cohesion policy.
The workshop was opened by Ms Constanze Krehl on behalf of Ms Kerstin Westphal, rapporteur of the own-initiative report on "Building blocks of a future EU cohesion policy".
The invited researchers tackled a wide range of topics linked to broader strategic directions of the future policy, (new) challenges, assessment of the alignment with economic governance processes (relevant country-specific recommendations), integrated approach in practice and finally, the role of the policy in addressing social challenges.
Both DG REGIO and DG EMPL representatives joined the debate, where the European Commission was invited to outline its work and next steps in preparation of the future legislative proposals. After those presentations the Members of the REGI Committee had the possibility to discuss these issues.
This workshop was organised by the Policy Department B: Structural and Cohesion Policies upon request of the Committee on Regional Development.
29-11-2016 09:15
Workshop on Ex-Ante Conditionalities in Cohesion Policies
On Tuesday, 29 November 2016, the Workshop on Ex-ante conditionalities in Cohesion Policies took place at the REGI Committee meeting. It addressed the Ex-ante conditionalities (EACs) that could be defined as the key prerequisite for efficient drawing of funds from the ESI Funds. EACs were directly linked to ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the five ESI funds.
The Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) clearly states that where the fulfilment of EACs is not perceived by the Commission as sufficient, this may lead to non-payment or suspension of interim payments to the programme part concerned.
It is an option and not an obligation for the Commission to suspend interim payments. Significant fulfilment of ex-ante conditionalities and, where applicable, the schedule of their implementation is part of the Partnership Agreement and individual programmes.
The Workshop on Ex-Ante Conditionalities in Cohesion Policies was opened by REGI Chair Ms Iskra Mihaylova and featured two external experts, DG REGIO representative and one national expert in charge of PA, evaluation and EACs. The presentations were followed by a debate with the Members of the REGI committee.
16-03-2016 00:00
Workshop on Simplification in Cohesion Policy
On 16 March 2016 a Workshop on Simplification took place at the REGI Committee meeting. Three external experts provided an insight into three key areas of Cohesion Policy with potential for simplification: the simplified cost options, e-cohesion and the area of audit. Two representatives from Managing Authorities provided their views on the opportunities and challenges for simplification, before the Commission would got the opportunity to react to all of these interventions.
01-12-2015 00:00
Workshop on Financial Instruments
On 1 December 2015 a Workshop on Finacial Instruments in Cohesion Policy took place at the REGI Committee meeting. The REGI Workshop featured four experts and provided an insight into the opportunities and challenges of the use of Financial Instruments in Cohesion Policy, including experiences from Member States and investments in the context of urban development.
13-07-2015 00:00
Workshop on Territorial Governance and Cohesion Policy
The Committee on Regional Development (REGI) organised a Workshop entitled "Territorial Governance and Cohesion Policy" during its meeting on 13 July 2015.