• fr
  • en

What future for Cohesion policy post 2020? Euromontana response to the public consultation

In March 2018, Euromontana has responsed to the public consultation on EU funds in the area of Cohesion. Its position paper points out solutions to move towards a more place-based development that more effectively considers territorial cohesion. It recalled that cohesion policy is also territorial cohesion and should pay particular attention to mountain areas, as requested in the Treaty of the Functioning of the EU.

Euromontana suggests how to better use existing tools to address place-based development in mountain areas all over the policy process from ex-ante evaluation, to designing and implementing the Operational Programmes to ex-post evaluation stage. It underlines the relevance of some tools like ITIs and CLLD instruments, even if insufficiently used so far or the possibility of modulating co-financing rates to give a higher co-financing rate to areas with geographical specificities. It also recognises the key role played by macro-regional strategies.

In addition, Euromontana suggests widening the set of available tools to make it easier to pay special attention to mountain areas. An Agenda for EU Mountainous Regions, a specific macro-regional strategy for the Carpathians, the development of cross-border Operational Programmes for some mountain ranges, like the “Comités de massifs” in France or better taking into account functional territories, with the possibility of creating multi-regional or intra-regional Operational Programmes for inter alia mountain ranges when relevant are among the examples presented. In addition, Euromontana suggests to better earmarked support with a minimum of 5% of Structural and Investment Funds for areas with geographic specificities to encourage place-based, integrated and sustainable development.

Finally, as simplification should first and foremost be done for beneficiaries, Euromontana presents simplification solutions to make Cohesion policy more accessible for all potential beneficiaries and more coherent. Euromontana notably recommends the following measures to be adopted:

  • Increased flexibility with multi-fund Operational Programmes and solutions for cross-financing of operations between ESF and ERDF
  • Encourage the possibility to have more synergies between the different Operational Programmes in one region
  • Encourage a one-stop shop for all managing authorities of Structural and Investment Funds
  • Promote the principle of proportionality in the controls
  • Use more simplified and unit costs to simplify the management and reporting of the operations for the beneficiaries.
  • Encourage managing authorities to systematically have a pre-financing of at least 50% of project costs at the beginning of each project to avoid cash flow problems for smaller organisations.
  • Simplify reporting processes.

To conclude, if Euromontana welcomes the fact that DG Regio has contracted a consultant to deliver a study, by August 2018, on how the current Operational Programmes are strengthening the development of islands, mountains and sparsely populated areas through Cohesion Policy, Euromontana can only regret that this study will not be taken into account in the next legislative proposals due by the end of May 2018.  More generally, regarding the timing, Euromontana wonders why this public consultation was done so late in the process and how its results will really be taken into account, as these legislative proposals have to be adopted by the College of Commissioners less than 3 months after the end of the consultation.

Share
21 March 2018

Euromontana sur Facebook

4 hours ago

Euromontana
We were today at the European Committee of the Regions too meet with regional policymakers from the Carpathians ⛰🤝 Thank you to Witold Kozłowski from the Małopolska region - also a new member of our Board of Directors - for our discussions!𝗪𝘀𝗽𝗼́𝗹𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝗮ł𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘀𝗸𝗶 𝗶 𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗶 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗿. 👍Obecność wicemarszałka Witold Kozłowski w Brukseli podczas 163. Sesji Plenarnej Europejskiego Komitetu Regionów dała okazję do spotkania z dyrektorem Europejskiego Stowarzyszenia Obszarów Górskich Euromontana Guillaume Corradino. | Więcej 👇 ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

1 day ago

Euromontana
One month since the #mountainconvention2024 in Puigcerdà! 🏔️ What future for #mountaineconomies? Find all the key insights in the event report! 📝🙏 Thank you to all stakeholders who shared their ideas, projects and recommendations for a brighter future in the mountains!Report 🔗 www.euromontana.org/outcomes ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

3 days ago

Euromontana
Explore the new guide on ‘rural proofing for the evaluation of the rural perspective in laws, policies, plans and strategies’: bit.ly/3O995FiPublished by the Red Española de Desarrollo Rural (REDR), it intends to support authorities in incorporating a rural angle when designing, implementing, and reviewing policies and regulations.Find more information here: bit.ly/4ev41FK #RuralPact #RuralVisionEUELARD aisbl EESC - European Economic and Social Committee European Rural Development Network ODRAZ-Održivi razvoj zajednice Prepare AISBL Luonnonvarakeskus Smeunited Euromontana Diesis Network Wallonie.be ECOLISE EU CAP Network Netzwerk Zukunftsraum Land Vlaams Ruraal Netwerk Réseau wallon PAC Ruralni razvoj RH Ministerstvo zemědělství Netwerk Platteland / Netherlands Rural Network Maaeluvõrgustik Maaseutu - Tilaa elämälle Réseau national Agricultures et Ruralités 2023 - 2027 Deutsche Vernetzungsstelle Ländliche Räume Εθνικό Αγροτικό Δίκτυο - Greek National Rural Network Magyar Nemzeti Vidéki Hálózat CAP Network Ireland Rete Rurale Nazionale Lauku tīkls Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation et de la Viticulture Fondi.eu Krajowa Sieć Obszarów Wiejskich+ Rede Rural Nacional Rețeaua Rurală Națională - RRN Mreža za podeželje ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

2 weeks ago

Euromontana
Today, members of the Rural Pact Coordination Group (RPCG) meet online to discuss: • The forthcoming RPCG Declaration on the future of EU rural policy, which addresses the open questions in the @European Commission’s ‘key achievements and ways forward’ report;• RPCG members’ position papers on the future of Europe’s rural areas;• RPCG members’ role in the Rural Pact Conference of April 2025;• Members’ actions to date & the Rural Pact Support Office 2025 work programme.More information at: bit.ly/4fwtjnS#RuralPact #RuralVisionEU ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook

Euromontana sur Twitter