The AER and EU Cohesion policy: assessing the present and anticipating for the future

The main objective of cohesion policy is to diminish the gap between different regions, more precisely between less-favoured regions and affluent ones. It is an instrument of financial solidarity and a powerful force for economic integration.

In June 2007, the AER launched a task force on EU cohesion policy post-2013. Its aim was to draft a White Paper on how EU cohesion policy could look like after 2013, according to a series of different possible scenarios defined by the group. More information on the activities of this group and to access meeting's working documents!

: Source: European Commission

Main events

4th meeting of the AER task force on cohesion policy 2014+, Brussels, 18 April 2008
2nd Meeting with Dirk Ahner, Director General of DG Regio, 13 December 2007
3rd meeting of the AER task force on cohesion policy 2014+ 14 December 2007, Brussels
2nd meeting of the AER task force on cohesion policy 2014+, 4th September 2007, Brussels and first Meeting with Dirk Ahner, Director General of DG Regio, 5 September 2007
1st meeting of the AER task force on cohesion policy 2014+, 15 June Strasbourg

Relevant news

Conference in Bratislava, 15 & 16 October : A New Generation of Instruments in European Regional Policy
On 15 and 16 October 2008, the European Investment Bank Group in cooperation with the European Commission will hold in Bratislava a conference on the new instruments in European regional policy addressing public and private stakeholders from all EU Member States, including Jaspers, Jeremie and Jessica.

Invitation

Programme

Registration

AER New Position on cohesion and Definition of Territorial cohesion adopted by the AER Bureau on 11 June 2008!
A new and more detailed political position on future cohesion policy was adopted by the AER Bureau on 11 June, in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie (PL). The Bureau also adopted a draft definition of the concept of territorial cohesion, which will serve as a basis for the AER reaction to the EC Green Paper on territorial cohesion, to be published in September 2008.

EU Conference on Future Cohesion policy in Maribor (SL), 4 April 2008
This Conference was organised by the Slovene Presidency and aimed at gathering Member States' views on future cohesion policy. Interregional organisations were invited to participate and express their views as well. The AER was represented there by its Secretary General Klaus KLIPP. Below, you will find the AER report on this meeting (reserved to members, please log-in to access the document) and the conclusions proposed by the Slovenian Presidency.

Conclusions of the Conference, by the Slovene Presidency

Please, log-in to access the AER report on this Conference

The AER study on future regional policy 2014+ was published in January 2008. This in-depth study is the outcome of a consultation among 260 AER member regions from 33 countries which ran over 7 weeks from September until 31st of October 2007. 60 Regions from more than 22 European Countries, EU- and non-EU members, participated in the consultation. The geographical as well as socio-economic dispersion among the respondent Regions was highly interesting. This study, prepared by the AER Committee 1 Secretariat, was coordinated by the AER task force on future regional policy, chaired by Jämtland and composed of representatives from various Regions of Europe.

AER Study on Future Regional Policy 2014+

Short Presentation of the main outcomes

Executive summary

Main AER positions since 2004

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) adopted its latest political position on future cohesion policy 2014+ at its political Bureau on 11 June 2008, in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie (PL).

AER Position, 11 June 2008

AER Definition of territorial cohesion (11 June 2008)

More EU funds for satellite information and services (SIS)

A joint AER-Eurisy position paper was adopted by the AER Bureau in Wroclaw, on 11 June 2008. This paper calls for enhanced synergies between FP7 funds and Structural funds, in order to allow Regions to better plan the funding and use of SIS in their regional development policy.

Eurisy is a non-profit organisation aiming at bridging space technologies and society and is cooperating with AER in a view to raise awareness in the Regions of the potential offered by space and satellite technologies.

AER/Eurisy Position adopted by the AER BUreau on 11 June 2008 in Wroclaw

AER Recommendations on Cohesion Policy post 2013 adopted in Udine, November 2007

Final declaration on Interregional co-operation (2006)

AER Reaction to the European Commission's State aid Action plan (2005)

AER Reaction to the draft Community Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013 for Cohesion Policy (2005)

AER reaction to the 3rd report on social and economic cohesion, published by the European Commission in February (2004)

Past AER events

A European dialogue on interregional co-operation (2 October 2006, Strasbourg, France)

Third AER Conference on the future of European Cohesion and Regional Policy (15 October 2004, Eger, Heves, Hungary)

Second AER Conference on the future of European Cohesion and Regional Policy (5-6 June 2003, Calabria, Italy)

First AER Conference on the future of European Cohesion and Regional Policy (14-15 November 2002, Pecs, Baranya, Hungary)

Past lobbying activities

Past and current AER activities in the field of cohesion policy

On 4 April 2006, Mrs Commissioner Danuta Hübner, in charge of regional policy, has met Mr Adrien ZELLER, President of the Regional Council of Alsace and Vice-President of the AER and Mr Klaus KLIPP, Secretary General of the AER.

Outcome of the meeting

Mr Onno HOES, President of Committee C and Mr Klipp, Secretary General met Mrs Hübner on 21 January 2005 to discuss the Commission's proposals for the new cohesion policy.

Outcomes of the meeting

Interesting documents

Manifesto for cross-border cooperation in Europe, Mission Transfrontalière Européenne

Also available in FR and DE .

4th Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, adopted by the European Commission on 30/05/2007

Draft outlook opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the leverage effect of the structural funds

Rapport du Parlement Européen sur le 3e rapport sur la cohésion (14/04/2004)

Position du Comité Economique et Social sur le 3e rapport sur la cohésion (06/2004)

"Construire un avenir commun: les défis politiques budgétaires dans l'Union élargie 2007 - 2013", opinion du Comité Economique et Social (09/2004)

"A la recherche d'un consensus: le débat sur la réforme de la politique de cohésion de l'UE", Robert BACHTLER et Fiona WISHLADE, Rapport du centre de recherche sur les politiques européennes "European Policies Research Centre"

Rapport "Fonds structurels européens et politique régionale", rapport de l'instance d'évaluation du gouvernement français, présidée par Patrice Magnier

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