Regional leaders fight to save post-2013 EU budget

Bayonne: Battlelines have been drawn in the fight to save Europe’s regional policy after 2013 at the launch of the general assembly of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR).

Currently, funds dedicated for Europe’s regions account for about one-third of the EU budget and there are fears that any reduction in the budget after 2013 will have an adverse impact on regional policy.

The outlook for the regions is expected to become a little clearer next week when the European commission publishes its much-awaited green paper on territorial cohesion.
 
Speaking on Thursday at the launch, CPMR president Claudio Martini said he hoped the green paper will be in line with the CPMR’s position on future regional policy.
 
Martini said this is to maintain the role and importance of regions and, in particular, take into account the “geographical handicaps” facing many coastal and peripheral regions.
 
Opening the CPMR plenary in the French city of Bayonne, Alain Rousset, president of the Aquitaine region, which is hosting the annual event, echoed Martini’s comments.
 
Rousset, who is also president of the Assembly of French Regions, which represents the 26 regions in France, said he was very concerned about the outlook for regional policy, adding, “The coming months and years will be very important as we fight to preserve regional policy in the post-2013 EU budget.”
 
The French politician says that if the EU budget falls below one per cent of GDP after 2013, it will impact very badly on regions.
 
He said he had similar concerns about the long-term future of the EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP).

Europe’s regions receive approximately €350bn from the overall budget for the seven-year spending period up to 2013, and various regional bodies are now stepping up their efforts to ensure this is not cut after that date.

Rousset said that resolutions adopted at this week’s CPMR assembly, which brings together representatives of over 150 maritime regions, will have a strong impact on decisions over the EU budget.
 
“We have to define our ambitions and goals but must go beyond narrow selfishness.”
 
He added, “We cannot suppress regions or the role they play. I am very concerned but we need regions and we shall battle to protect their interests.”
 
Jean Grenet, an MP and mayor of Bayonne, said, “The message that must go out from this assembly is that the regions are the essential voice in meeting the needs and aspirations of our citizens.”

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