Resolution on the way forward for the financial perspectives 2007-2013
Date: 2005-11-17
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: budget policy, economic and social cohesion, interinstitutional relations (EU), multiannual financial framework

16.5.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 115/73

Advocates boosting the neighbourhood policy through new
action plans; calls upon the European Commission to take
account of the contribution of cross-border and interregional
cooperation in these plans and asks to be involved in their
drafting, implementation and evaluation.

Restates its commitment to strengthening the Euro-Mediterra-
nean partnership, together with its call for steps to be taken to
increase the involvement of local and regional authorities, and
calls for the creation of a new forum in the Euro-Mediterra-
firstly, of
nean institutional
framework, with the
and
promoting territorial
secondly,
developing
programmes that include schemes to be undertaken throughout
the Mediterranean region.

and decentralised cooperation,

the partnership,

encouraging

task,

and

Brussels, 17 November 2005.

Regrets that the contribution of European local and regional
authorities to European development policy presently remains
largely unknown, and consequently recommends a reassess-
ment of the role of decentralised cooperation, by recognising
that
local and regional authorities possess, alongside other
actors, specific know-how and experience which they can
contribute to the global approach to the fight against global
poverty and efforts to achieve the UN Millennium Goals.

Instructs its President to submit this resolution to the Euro-
pean Commission, the European Parliament, the Council, and
the Austrian and Finnish presidencies.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB

Resolution on the way forward for the financial perspectives 2007-2013

(2006/C 115/16)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

HAVING REGARD TO its opinion on the financial perspective: Communication on Building Our Common
Future: Policy Challenges and Budgetary Means of the Enlarged Union 2007-2013 (CdR 162/2004 fin);

HAVING REGARD TO the European Parliament resolution on Policy Challenges and Budgetary Means of
the enlarged Union 2007-2013 (A6-0153/2005);

1)

2)

3)

WHEREAS the European Council failed to reach an agreement on the budget for the forthcoming
EU programming period of 2007-2013 at its meeting on 16 and 17 June;

WHEREAS the United Kingdom presidency was called upon to take forward discussions, drawing on
the progress made, with a view to resolving all the issues necessary for achieving an agreement as
soon as possible;

WHEREAS there is a need for financial perspectives to be adopted in 2005 allowing effective poli-
cies for solidarity, territorial cohesion and more growth and jobs in Europe from 2007 onwards;

adopted the following resolution at its 62nd plenary session of 16 and 17 November 2005
(meeting of 17 November):

The Committee of the Regions

declaration adopted jointly with the European Parliament on
6 April 2005 and the Wroclaw Declaration on 20 May 2005;

1.
reiterates its support for the original balanced proposals
of the European Commission (CdR 162/2004 fin), calculated
on the basis of realistic needs and adopted after extensive
consultations with local and regional authorities over four-
years, which it set out in its opinion and reaffirmed in the

2.
acknowledges the proposals made by the Luxembourg
Presidency and agrees in particular with the European Parlia-
ment that the financial perspectives should be established in a
way to ensure that sufficient resources are available to comple-
ment competitiveness and growth objectives and ensure the

C 115/74

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

16.5.2006

availability of Regional and Structural Funds for all European
regions. This is indispensable if the Union is to deliver its
commitments and avoid increased public disappointment with
the European Union. Any reduction in the budget ceiling will
put in danger the basic principles of cohesion policy and conse-
quently undermine the principle of solidarity that represents a
distinct and essential element of the European integration and
the model of European society. Budget reductions in this area
could result into a re-nationalisation of the regional policy for
the majority of the former EU-15 and that is clearly contrary to
the views of European regions and local authorities;

3.
underlines the convergence of views between the CoR
and the European Parliament stressing the importance of EP's
role as an equal partner in the budget negotiations;

4.
urges Member States to resist calls for restricting the
Union's budget, and proposes that Member States provide the
EU with a budget which allows it to act effectively in those
areas where it has and can continue to provide tangible added
value to the lives of Europe's citizens and the places they live
and work. Notes that
this will require strong leadership,
demonstration of clear cross sector partnership and a sustained
public discussion in the coming months to agree those key
areas where the Union provides this added value;

5.
reminds Member States that cohesion policy is an area
where the EU provides real added value: as spending in this
area, at the EU level brings a greater return and leverage effect
than at the national level. Cohesion policy has been proven to
be particularly vital to fighting economic and social disparities
between and within European regions, which constitute major
obstacles to the delivery and efficiency of the European internal
market. Cohesion policy is fundamental for regions that are
lagging behind the average in Europe,
the Lisbon
objectives and therefore has to be implicitly recognised as an
essential complement
in policy terms to all strategies for
growth and jobs in Europe;

to meet

Brussels, 17 November 2005.

6.
supports the efforts made by the President of the Euro-
pean Commission to re-launch negotiations on the Financial
Perspectives and considers that this could also help to take
forward discussions on how to modernise the EU budget, but
insists that all such proposals must be set within the minimum
adequate financial framework. In this regard, it takes note of
the proposals for a new Globalisation adjustment Fund and
JEREMIE and JASPERS mechanisms, and considers that these
instruments should be complementary and not introduced as
alternatives to budget headings envisaged to deliver the conver-
gence and the competitiveness and employment Objective;

7.
furthermore, in this respect it warns against the channel-
ling of EU funds into solely national policies to deliver competi-
tiveness and growth considering that EU funds can be best
targeted at
to further develop territorial cohesion within a
mainstreamed competitiveness and growth agenda as part of a
EU wide Cohesion policy; moreover demands that the Struc-
tural Funds co-financing rules should continue to provide the
possibility for private co-financing;

8.
regrets that the informal summit in Hampton Court on
27 October could not achieve the restarting of the debate on
the financial perspectives;

9.
is especially concerned that a delayed agreement will
have a negative impact on how citizens view Europe, will
jeopardise a smooth start to the next programming period, and
instability across the local and regional
generate financial
authorities of the EU, with negative economic effects, above all
in the new Member States, which could face serious problems
in fulfilling obligations
that originated during transition
periods, which the Member States agreed to comply with in
accession agreements before the last enlargement of the Euro-
pean Union.

10.
reiterates its appeal to the British Presidency to do all
that is necessary to reach an agreement by the end of the year.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB