• fr
  • en

Montana174 final conference: highlights

On 20th September, Euromontana organised the final conference of the Montana174 project in Brussels, Belgium, together with EU institutions, regional authorities, EU associations and more. Discover here the highlights and take-aways. 

The Cohesion Policy is of great benefit to mountain areas, but its efficiency can still be improved. This was the general message of the final conference of Montana174, organised by Euromontana at the European Committee of the Regions on 20 September 2022.

 

Cohesion Policy supports mountain development

Cohesion Policy offers important funding opportunities to invest in costly infrastructure and basic services in mountains, as highlighted by Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, President of the Regional Assembly of Corsica (France) and Władysław Ortyl, President of the Podcarpackie Region (Poland).

Through Montana174, a one-year communication campaign on Cohesion Policy, Euromontana and its partners promoted numerous initiatives financed by the cohesion funds in the mountains to improve the quality of life of local communities. Good examples in the field of youth employment, adaptation to climate change, mobility and more can be found in the project’s good practice brochures and videos.

 

Efforts still needed to improve efficiency and absorption of funds in the mountain

Although Cohesion Policy is an essential lever for reducing territorial inequalities, progress is still needed to improve its effectiveness. The complexity of the funds, the high number of interlocutors and the lack of expertise and skills in some mountain areas make it more difficult to absorb the funds in mountain areas. This calls for more information and capacity building but also, as raised by some speakers, for more simplification. For more efficiency on the ground, it was also insisted that Cohesion Policy funds should finance an integrated territorial development strategy, with calls and programmes all aiming at common objectives.

In addition, the conference highlighted the lack of earmarking of funds to mountain areas. Progress has been made with the promotion of rural development through CLLDs and ITIs in the framework of the new Policy Objective 5 “Europe closer to citizens”. However, there is no specific envelope dedicated to Article 174 areas in this new fund structure, as also stressed in Ms Maupertuis’ draft opinion at the European Committee of the Regions “Enhancing Cohesion Policy support for regions with geographic and demographic handicaps (art 174 TFEU)”.

Based on the findings of the Montana174 campaign and on the relevant recommendations made by Ms Maupertuis in her opinion, Guillaume Corradino, Director of Euromontana, called for more capacity building to support local stakeholders and invited the European Commission to better consider the needs of regions of article 174 in the post-2027 Cohesion Policy.

The details of the interventions during the Montana174 conference “How to foster the effective uptake of Cohesion Policy funds in mountain areas?” can be found in the event report.

>>> READ THE FULL HIGHLIGTS FROM THE MONTANA174 CONFERENCE <<<

Share

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