The European Parliament's Regional Development Committee has voted on amendments to the Commission's five key proposals to reform the EU's structural and cohesion funding after 2014.

ALDE MEP Riikka Manner (Finland, Centre Party) is the lead negotiator for the Parliament on the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC), which will be separated from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) regulation in order to provide more clarity and coherence for its specific cross-border and transnational goals and their implementation.

Commenting after the vote, Ms Manner said:

"Regional development does not stop at borders. It is vital that regions and towns in different Member States receive financial support and encouragement to work together and exchange knowledge via programmes, projects and networks to boost jobs and growth in their neighbourhoods.

"In particular, improvements to infrastructure such as better transport links and shared energy networks help boost cross-border trade, tourism and better managed natural, human and cultural resources. We have underlined the need for flexibility with regard to the thematic objectives and priorities of investments, managing to keep the focus on the EU2020 goals. It is of the utmost importance for the future that the EU's cohesion policy delivers on its objectives. To achieve those goals, we have to put well-functioning structures in place and cut red tape, for example by introducing flat-rates for overhead costs such as staff salaries.
 
"As part of the ETC reforms, we are pushing for a greater share of the overall cohesion budget. In today's votes, we were able to convince colleagues that the European Parliament should continue to emphasise the importance of cooperation between the regions and Member States. This is vital not just for the development of the single market, but for the whole of the European Union."

The ETC regulation is based on three components: cross-border cooperation (73%), transnational cooperation (21%) and inter-regional cooperation (6%). Programmes under the new ETC will be aligned to the EU 2020 goals and general cohesion objectives.   

ENDS