By Martin Banks - 13th December 2011
This is the only way to ensure that EU investment is integrated
Frank Jensen
A Brussels conference was told that without the "full participation" of local and regional authorities, the EU 2020 strategy "cannot be achieved".
The event, organised by several regional organisations, heard that a regional "input" is needed in order to achieve the strategy objectives of "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth".
The much vaunted 2020 plan "must also involve citizens, businesses, civil society and any other relevant stakeholders in order to reach these common goals", it was said.
A key policy paper, drafted by the various groups and discussed at the conference, says, "Europe needs a new model of multi-level governance based on a true partnership between all spheres of government.
"Thanks to the Lisbon treaty, we now have the political legitimacy to advocate this partnership.
"We must work together through horizontal and vertical networks to ensure tangible results and the integrated place-based development of Europe.
"Only thus will we avoid the failure of the EU 2020 strategy, as was the case with its predecessor, the Lisbon strategy which did not adequately engage local and regional authorities."
Speaking at the event, Wolfgang Schuster, mayor of Stuttgart and president of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, said, "We welcome the European commission's proposal for a common strategic framework for the different European funds.
"It will help translate the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy into investment priorities and will be complemented by partnership agreements, to be developed at the national level.
"In order to clarify the responsibilities of the different levels of governance, we believe that the commission's 'code of conduct', expected early next year, should highlight the establishment of a territorial pact at the national level, which should bring together all actors on the ground.
"Indeed, it is imperative to associate all of these regions if we are to ensure the successful economic growth of Europe."
Further comment came from Jean-Yves Le Drian, president of Brittany region and of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions.
He said, "Cohesion policy is the 'visible hand' of European integration. It cannot be reduced to financial trade-offs, as it is the best answer that European territories can bring to the crisis, national self-interests and temptations of isolationism.
"Applying strict conditions for structural fund distribution can obviously not be done at any price.
"It is legitimate to strive for more efficiency, but regions cannot be asked to pay for states' excessive debt problems."
Further comment came from Michèle Sabban, president of the Association of European Regions and vice president of the French Île -de-France region, who welcomed the commission's draft structural funds regulations as a "strong starting point for the forthcoming negotiations".
Frank Jensen, mayor of Copenhagen and president of Eurocities, said, "It is metropolitan Europe that will lead the way to greater global competitiveness.
"We are keen to see commissioner Hahn's desire for an ambitious urban agenda move from paper into practice. And the regulations provide clear opportunities for that to happen.
"The strong required focus on cities and metropolitan areas could be better assured if key city leaders were involved in programming EU funds, at present largely managed by regions."
He added, "This is the only way to ensure that EU investment is integrated with other actions and therefore has the greatest impact."
