European Commission launches proposals on Regional Development and Cohesion Policy beyond 2020

Summary:

The European Commission launched on 29 May 2018 a set of proposals setting out the future of regional development and cohesion policy in the European Union for the post-2020 period.

These were the draft laws put forward on this occasion:

+ [COM(2018)372] Proposal for a Regulation on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund

+ [COM(2018)373] Proposal for a Regulation on a mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context

+ [COM(2018)374] Proposal for a Regulation on specific provisions for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) supported by the European Regional Development Fund and external financing instruments

+ [COM(2018)375] Proposal for a Regulation laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum and Migration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument

Further information:

The proposals include the priotisation of key investment areas; further regional convergence by adding more diverse criteria when categorising regions; an effort to cut red tape and simplify the rules and frameworks; strengthening the connection between cohesion policy and the European Semester.

These proposals were put forward after the launch of the general draft laws concernig the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2021-2027 period.

European Commission: Press Release, 29.05.18: EU budget: Regional Development and Cohesion Policy beyond 2020 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3885_en.htm

European Commission: Regional Development and Cohesion Policy beyond 2020 [Q&A] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-3866_en.htm

EurActiv, 22.06.18: Commission sheds some light on cohesion policy reform https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/commission-sheds-some-light-on-cohesion-policy-reform/

EUObserver, 29.05.18: Hungary and Poland to lose quarter of EU funds https://euobserver.com/economic/141933

EurActiv, 30.05.18: Commission proposes more spending on Italy and south, less on Visegrad Four https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/commission-proposes-more-spending-on-italy-and-south-less-on-visegrad-four/

Politico, 29.05.18: 4 takeaways from the EU’s big regional cash shakeup https://www.politico.eu/article/4-takeaways-from-the-eu-big-regional-cash-shakeup-budget-mff-spending-visegrad/

Reuters, 29.05.18: EU proposes more spending on Italy and south, less in east https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-eu-budget-funds/idUKKCN1IU1RB

Bloomberg, 29.05.18: EU Regional Aid for Eastern Europe to Shrink in New Budget https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-29/eu-regional-aid-for-east-europe-to-shrink-in-post-brexit-budget

The Irish Times, 29.05.18: Central and eastern European states to get less EU cohesion funding https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/central-and-eastern-european-states-to-get-less-eu-cohesion-funding-1.3512980

El País, 29.05.18: Brussels to propose 5% hike in cohesion funds for Spain https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/05/29/inenglish/1527579158_520892.html

Romania Insider, 30.05.18: Cohesion funds for Romania to increase by 8% in the next EU budget https://www.romania-insider.com/cohesion-funds-romania-eu-budget/

Radio Poland, 29.05.18: Poland says planned cut in EU funds 'unacceptable' http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/365783

Times of Malta, 29.05.18: Malta set to lose almost €200m in EU funding under Commission's proposals https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180529/local/malta-set-to-lose-200m-in-eu-funding-under-commissions-proposals.680363

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