The last 23 and 24 April took place in Mariánské Lázne, Czech Republic, an informal Ministerial meeting on Regional Policy. During this Ministerial meeting, Ministers for Regional Policy adopted a Communiqué on the future of Cohesion Policy.
This Communiqué underlines that Cohesion Policy contributes to integration, solidarity, cohesion and competitiveness in Europe and, for this reason its role has to be preserved in the future. Ministers also agreed in the fact that the primary focus of the Cohesion Policy should be put on the convergence of less prosperous areas but that the Policy should be implemented across the whole EU territory. The Communiqué also emphasises the need to simplify the mechanisms of territorial cohesion as much as possible. All participants agreed that it is necessary to develop the current debate on the future of Cohesion Policy after 2013.
Because the future of Cohesion Policy is a matter of interest for all Local Intermediate Authorities, Partenalia members will sing a Declaration on the future of Cohesion Policy during the constitution of the Political Council in Lille the next 29 and 30 June.
For further information on the Czech Presidency:
http://www.eu2009.cz/en/
