The challenge of cohesion policy” is the event that was held on Friday 28 June in Brussels with the aim of promoting an exchange on the future of cohesion policy, in view of the imminent debate on its future.
The meeting thus provided a better understanding of the main criticisms on the future of cohesion policy; a concrete test of the CoR’s views on the future of the policy and the emergence of ideas for reforming cohesion policy beyond 2027.
The event was moderated by Laura Polverari, professor at the University of Padua, asking questions regarding the definition of the “European added value” of an EU regional policy program, the evaluation of the design and effectiveness of central regulations of EU cohesion policy and the necessary adjustments to regional policy instruments in terms of scope, tools and rules.
The President of the Europe Department of ANCI Lombardia intervened by placing considerations regarding the future of the Cohesion Policy and highlighting that: “on the Italian front we are faced with an alignment with the PNRR by the Government. The laudable objectives of speed and implementation must however, guarantee the right role of local and regional authorities, to guarantee the principle of subsidiarity envisaged by the European treaties. The cohesion policy for the 21-27 programming is worth 3.5 billion in Lombardy and is an important piece of European autonomy guaranteed by the institutions. potential centralization is not a guarantee of effectiveness and efficiency: the role of the territories must remain central also in the future!”, reflections also shared by the coordinator of the EU Department of Anci Lombardia Matteo Bianchi, present at the meeting.
