Minister Jevšek in Brussels on cohesion policy as key to EU success
Brussels – At the meeting of cohesion ministers in Brussels on Thursday, before the start of the mandate of the new European Commission, a discussion on key cohesion priorities took place. Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Aleksander Jevšek emphasized the importance of cohesion policy for the integrated and sustainable development and success of the EU on this occasion.
“The strength of cohesion policy as a long-term investment policy lies in maintaining its principles. It is important that cohesion policy is preserved with all its principles and further strengthened and adapted so that its contribution to the development and resilience of the EU is even greater,” said Jevšek.
According to Jevšek, cohesion policy must support investments and reforms based on the specifics, opportunities, and concrete needs of regions and cities, and contribute to reducing development disparities between them. To increase the effectiveness of implementation, as much flexibility and simplification as possible should be introduced at all levels and taken into account already in the preparation of legislative proposals for the new programming period, he added.
“Cohesion policy needs clear and simple rules, but the key is a focus on results,” concluded the minister, who also advocated for the preservation of the scope of cohesion funds. (November 28)