111 Future of Cohesion Policy

Principles and assumptions Cohesion policy:  Is not “a Chapter Two“ of the Europe 2020 Strategy.  Should reflect specific conditions; thus no universal obligatory priorities for all regions would be adequate.  Should use tailor-made solutions for individual regions according to their specific needs and potentials.  Has, of its nature, integrated character which should be kept also for the future.  Has to follow negotiations resulting from needs.

Thematic priorities  There is apparent consensus on the principle of thematic concentration.  Thematic concentration will align Cohesion Policy with the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.  There will be a menu of priorities – as a basis for country specific selection according to its needs and priorities.  For each priority, a core number of indicators would be negotiated...  Thematic priorities should be sufficiently focused and, at the same tome, sufficiently flexible.

Strategic planning  “Cascade“ of documents – logic hierarchy; however …  Common Strategic Framework – as a common basis; will also European Parliament be involved?  Development and Partnership Contract – a lot of uncertainties … What will be the legal framework? How equal treatment with all Member States will be ensured? Will commitments of both parties be balanced? How about enforcement? Conditionalities involved?  Operational programmes – indicators enabling progress measurement, result-based approach …

Conditionalities  Crucial issue for future Cohesion policy!  Ex-ante conditionalities – more or less imaginable; main aim = to prepare the “play ground“.  Different in each Member State according to its specific situation … how to compare?  Thus – European performance reserve is not realistic …  Structural conditionalities – also “ex-ante“ nature; however, main aim = to “enforce“ reforms!  Thus – Cohesion policy should not serve as a „hammer“; it should complement reforms instead.

Iplementation system  Are all the Commission‘s proposals in compliance with the simplification effort?  New elements – like conditionalities – new regulatory and control duties …  How to improve the management and control systems?  Financial instruments – loans instead of grants mean less „“immediate“ expenditures; however, there are long- term administrative and management costs …  Pros and cons – careful assessment in advance for each type of intervention according to the objective!

Policy architecture  Geographical coverage … Capital regions; internal peripheries …  Role of cities – how to deal with specific “urban problems“ and “urban opportunities to develop“?  “Transition“ regions – in a new “transition“ category?  How to balance, in a flexible way, possibilities of unlocking local potentials according to the specific occasions of given territories?  Multilevel governance – different in federal and unitary countries.

Thank you for your attention.