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Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs: Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013

(2006/C 115/01)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

HAVING REGARD TO the Communication from the Commission: Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs: Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013 (COM(2005) 299 final);

HAVING REGARD TO the decision of the European Commission on 5 July 2005, under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult it on this matter;

HAVING REGARD TO the decision of its President of 19 May 2005 to instruct the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy to draw up an opinion on this issue;

HAVING REGARD TO the Communication from the Commission: Third progress report on cohesion: Towards a new partnership for growth, jobs and cohesion COM(2005) 192 final (SEC(2005)632);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the Communication from the Commission: Third report on economic and social cohesion — A new partnership for cohesion, convergence, competitiveness and cooperation, COM(2004) 107 final (CdR 120/2004 final) (1);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the financial perspectives — Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament: Building our common future — Policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007-2013 (COM(2004) 101 final — CdR 162/2004 fin) (2);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund (COM(2004) 495 final — 2004/0167 (COD) — CdR 233/2004 fin) (3);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a Cohesion Fund (COM(2004) 494 final — 2004/0166 (AVC) — CdR 234/2004 fin) (4);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund (COM(2004) 493 final — 2004/0165 (COD) — CdR 240/2004 fin) (5);

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund (COM(2004) 492 final — 2004/0163 (AVC) — CdR 232/2004 fin) (6);

HAVING REGARD TO the Birmingham declaration adopted by the CoR bureau on 2 September 2005 on Cohesion policy and the national framework plans for implementing the Lisbon strategy;

HAVING REGARD TO its draft opinion on this issue (CdR 140/2005 rev. 1) adopted on 30 September 2005 by the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy (rapporteur: Mr Alain Rousset, President of the Aquitaine Regional Council (FR/PES));

adopted the following opinion at its 62nd plenary session, held on 16 and 17 November 2005 (meeting of 16 November).

I.   General comments

The Committee of the Regions:

1.   The Community Strategic Guidelines (CSGs) and the Lisbon Strategy

The Committee of the Regions

2.   The territorial dimension of cohesion policy

The Committee of the Regions

3.   Compatibility of financial resources with the stated objectives

The Committee of the Regions

II.   Recommendations

The Committee of the Regions

Brussels, 16 November 2005.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB

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(1)OJ C 318, 22.12.04, p. 1.

(2)OJ C 164, 05.07.05, p. 4.

(3)OJ C 231, 20.09.05, p. 19.

(4)OJ C 231, 20.09.05, p. 35.

(5)OJ C 164, 05.07.05, p. 48.

(6)OJ C 231, 20.09.05, p. 1.

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