• fr
  • en

How can the post-2020 Cohesion Policy address the needs of mountain areas?

During the 2020 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities DG REGIO organised the session “Development opportunities for islands, mountainous and sparsely populated areas of the EU under Cohesion Policy post 2020” on October 15, 2020. Marie Clotteau – Director of Euromontana – was one of the panellists to reflect on the post-2020 regional policy.

 

DG REGIO encourages the use of Policy Objective 5 in mountain areas

Wallis Goelen Vandebrock, Senior Advisor on Cohesion Policy implementation in areas with natural and geographic constraints at DG REGIO, invited Managing Authorities from mountainous regions to make use of the new Policy Objective 5 “Europe closer to citizens” (PO5).  This new PO is supposed to support territorial development with a placed-based approach and integrated strategies at local level. The particularity of PO5 also relies in its full thematic flexibility, meaning that mountainous areas can programme investments on any development topic like transports, digital etc.

The European Commission also stressed the importance of PO5 for mountain areas in the context of the post-COVID recovery. Investments in natural and cultural heritage and tourism will for instance be encouraged under PO5. This can be an opportunity for mountain territories that are highly dependent to tourism to support this sector, highly affected by the crisis.

Moreover, DG REGIO pointed that the Green Deal is especially relevant for our regions. The thematic flexibility of PO5 can also be a tool for mountain territories to deliver on this green transition through targeted investments on climate friendly and sustainable economy, digitalisation and social transformations.

 

Be ambitious say mountain stakeholders

Marie Clotteau – Director of Euromontana – welcomed the opportunity given by the next Cohesion Policy to move towards the sub-regional level, enabling to shape strategies based on the specific needs of each territory with this Policy Objective 5. Nonetheless, she reminded that regions, depending on their development level, must spend from 60 to 80% of the funds in Policy Objectives 1 and 2 (respectively “A smarter Europe” and “A greener, carbon free Europe”). Therefore, Marie Clotteau invited Managing Authorities from mountain areas not to restrict themselves to PO5 and to make use of other POs too.

Marie Clotteau also reaffirmed the potential of our regions to deliver on the Green Deal objectives; however, she stressed that we need investments in capacity building and strategies for the development of circular economy and sustainable mobility and for the creation of skilled jobs. On mobility, Euromontana’s Director, called Managing Authorities to pay a particular attention to people living outside TEN-T networks, to invest in cross-border mobility, rail transport and alternative fuels and to support digitalisation.

“We exist, we are there, and we have specific challenges and assets that should be properly addressed” concluded Marie Clotteau, inviting Managing Authorities to consider mountains in their programming. Euromontana published a dedicated factsheet to support them step-by-step in designing measures that address mountains’ challenges.

 

Stakeholders also expressed their hopes for the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, which is being prepared by the European Commission’s DG REGIO and DG AGRI. They expect the Vision to further take into consideration the challenges of rural Europe, in particular for areas of article 174 TFEU (mountainous, remote, sparsely populated areas and islands). If DG REGIO experts present at the session reassured that they are working on the integration of regions of article 174 into this Vision, they however warned that European rural areas are highly diverse and that all specificities cannot be included in a unique strategy.

For more information, you can visit the webpage of this virtual session, where the recording should soon be available.

Share
19 October 2020

Euromontana sur Facebook

3 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