Almost 100 representatives from regional governments’ permanent offices in Brussels attended the dialogue with the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) on 27 June.
The importance of the involvement of regional and local stakeholders in programming decisions topped the agenda of the meeting, while representatives pointed to the challenge of implementing the many different EU initiatives in parallel.
The event was particularly meaningful for participants as it was the first such meeting to take place in person since the COVID-19 lockdowns and had the positive atmosphere of a much-needed new start.
‘Let’s hope we do not let another two years go by before meeting again,’ said the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. ‘You are essential in making sure that EU policymakers, in all EU institutions, hear the voice of your territories and take their interests into account. You are also an essential chain of transmission of new initiatives.’
Pivotal timing
The meeting marked a key moment for regional policies. Regions are facing an unprecedented combination of challenges, from the climate crisis to handling the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the lingering inequalities that hinder regional development.
The EU is also at the transition between two programming periods and a time when new programmes, such as the REACT-EU regional recovery fund, have been introduced to support regions to face and overcome crises.
Commissioner Ferreira illustrated how the evolution of regional policy for the 2021-2027 funding period reinforces partnership with local stakeholders. For example, she noted that informal discussions on individual programmes were launched half a year earlier than for the 2014-2020 period. This approach ensures a greater margin for dialogue and coordination with local stakeholders in shaping high-quality programmes.
Commissioner Ferreira also seized the opportunity to remind participants that some EU countries have not yet sent in proposals for Partnership Agreements and cohesion policy programmes, and that the final deadline to receive the first tranche of payments is fast approaching.
Policy partnership
The meeting underscored the high value that DG REGIO attaches to the partnership with regions to achieve policy priorities. The Commissioner noted how the Recovery and Resilience Facility provides opportunities for regions to mitigate COVID-19 impacts and to accelerate a sustainable green and digital transition.
Above all, funding will support the goals of the European Green Deal, she explained. Around a third of the European Region Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund is earmarked for climate action, and spending on biodiversity will be increased.
In addition, both funds now include the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle, which states that investments to achieve one environmental objective must not have negative consequences on another, guiding regions to balance objectives for a sustainable economy.
Participants heard how cohesion policy is being adapted to support regional partners facing issues from the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Among measures are a new instrument for regions – Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) – as well as an advice website for managing authorities and more flexible funding rules.
Cohesion policy will also drive REPowerEU, the EU initiative that aims to reduce dependency on fossil-fuel imports from Russia, in close cooperation with regional and local authorities in setting objectives.
On continued territorial and local development, Commissioner Ferreira emphasised the importance of consultation with local stakeholders.
She discussed the Communication on Outermost Regions, which aims to unlock the potential of Europe’s most remote regions. For rural areas, the Commission has developed a long-term vision to build sustainable, diversified economies by 2040 that attract investment and create opportunities for rural residents. There is also a renewed focus on sustainability in urban development.
‘We cannot afford to have “forgotten places” in Europe,’ the Commissioner said.
Co-shaping policy
On the usefulness of such dialogues with the Commission, Leo Grassi, Senior European Affairs Officer of the Italian Regional Representation office of Abruzzo, finds that existing communication with DG REGIO allows regional offices to advise on local programmes. The level of detail regional representations gather on these meetings is such that, his region would welcome if it was made structural through digital channels. Indeed, he suggests to expand EU digital communication with the representatives into a full online platform on which regional offices can proactively share information with the Commission.
However, Grassi agreed that dialogues with the Commissioner help regional policymakers to understand the ‘big picture’ on issues linked to Cohesion Policy. ‘This last meeting, for instance, was crucial in spotlighting the context of the invasion of Ukraine and linking it to the support provided to regions that are welcoming refugees.’
Direct access to the Commissioner helps to strengthen local governance and decision-making. He explained that the meetings with the Commissioner allow offices to pick out the most relevant information for their regions from the detail provided by more frequent sources. This ensures that local governments can understand the political priorities underpinning EU policies.
Another advantage of these meetings is the opportunity to meet colleagues from other regional offices. ‘It is a chance to develop strategies, share best practices, and create a critical mass of like-minded stakeholders as well as to check the state of programming in other regions, to have benchmarks,’ Grassi said.
He added that this is useful whether offices agree with each other or not. If fact, regular contact between regional offices is so important to his region, Abruzzo, that it would be willing to host more opportunities for regional offices to discuss issues.
Carole Esclapez, from the French regional representation of the Pays de la Loire echoed comments when she stated that she would like group meetings with the Commissioner to take place more than once a year, given the number of initiatives being proposed. ‘But it is a first step, which also allows us to meet between regional offices from other Member States,’ she conceded.
Communication bridge
Commissioner Ferreira praised the regional offices for their role as partners with the Commission. She encouraged them to increase local communication so that regions are more aware of available EU support and called on regional partners to simplify access to funds so that all stakeholders can be more active in policy implementation.
In turn, delegates recognised that the Commission is making an unprecedented effort to support regions to emerge stronger in the face of difficult years, and overwhelmingly supported the revival of in-person meetings.
In particular, representatives appreciated the opportunity to ask questions to the Commissioner. ‘It is a place where she can also hear directly our concerns, said Carole Esclapez. ‘It is important that she takes into account the difficulties that we can experience on the ground.’
Delegates agree that these meetings provide a valuable insight into policies. In fact, Esclapez, who works on Agriculture, Rural areas Fisheries and Cohesion, said that although she follows the Commission committees related to her fields and receives detailed information from DG REGIO, the large group meetings with the Commissioner provide a better understanding of trends across policy areas. ’It is interesting to hear directly the Commissioner’s analysis of the latest numerous developments in the policies she’s responsible for,’ she said.
Leo Grassi holds the same view as he said that ‘The meeting with the Commissioner offers the chance of receiving feedback at the highest level.’
