Verbatim report of proceedings

Monday, 2 July 2012 - Strasbourg

27. Evolution of EU macro-regional strategies: present practice and future prospects, especially in the Mediterranean (short presentation)

  President. – The next item is the report by François Alfonsi, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the evolution of EU macro-regional strategies: present practice and future prospects, especially in the Mediterranean (2011/2179(INI)) (A7-0219/2012).

  François Alfonsi, rapporteur. – (FR) Mr President, Commissioner, this report on the evolution of EU macro-regional strategies and their future prospects, especially in the Mediterranean, ties in with two particular issues.

The first is the issue of the upcoming 2014-2020 programming period, with respect to the territorial cooperation strand of cohesion policy in particular. The macro-regional strategy for the Baltic Sea, launched three years ago, is opening up a new domain for development and synergies between EU policies within a single working and services area: a maritime area, mountain range or river basin.

The second issue is that of the difficult times that the Mediterranean is currently experiencing, with the debt crisis on the European shore and the events since the Arab spring on the other, which have affected all these neighbouring countries of the European Union.

A macro-regional strategy enhances the effectiveness of the EU’s regional development policies. It provides an overview and reinforces strategies between regions and States, as well as between various EU instruments for development, such as the European Investment Bank and the European Neighbourhood Policy and pre-accession policy.

This report therefore proposes that we forge ahead in developing macro-regional strategies. It suggests that the Commission coordinate a consultation and dialogue process for future projects. It stresses, in particular, the importance of this type of system for the Mediterranean. This region is vital to Europe’s future; therefore, we must take these steps as soon as possible, in a practical, coordinated way. We should begin by speedily approving the Adriatic-Ionian strategy, which covers the central Mediterranean and Adriatic regions.

This project has undergone broad consultation and is at an advanced stage. It will be a first step and will lead into similar processes for the western and eastern Mediterranean regions. With proper coordination, it will also result in an overall strategy for the entire Mediterranean area.

The problems affecting the European shore of the Mediterranean are considerable. Regional development policy, in particular, the territorial cooperation strand, is a vital key to finding lasting solutions to these problems. A macro-regional strategy uses existing budgets and does not require new financial resources. We need new projects rather than new funding. By their very nature, macro-regional strategies tend to encourage such projects and get local stakeholders actively involved, including central and regional governments and other parties, through multilevel governance.

In its conclusion, the report calls on the Commission to bring its experience and cooperation to this project, and asks the forthcoming Cypriot Presidency to promote the project’s development over the next few months.

While drafting this report, I met with many of the leaders concerned. There is great willingness to cooperate on a macro-regional strategy of this nature throughout the whole of the Mediterranean. We should seize this economic opportunity in order to send a positive, forward-looking signal to the Mediterranean region, every part of which is experiencing the effects of the economic crisis.

To conclude, I should like to thank my fellow Members from the Committee on Regional Development, especially the shadow rapporteurs who took great interest in this report, as their many amendments demonstrate. I should also like to thank the Committee on Culture and Education and its rapporteur, Ms Benarab-Attou, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and its rapporteur, Mr Salavrakos, for the work they produced, which considerably enriched the report I have presented to you.

Catch-the-eye procedure

  Malika Benarab-Attou (Verts/ALE). – (FR) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Culture and Education, I would like to add a few words to what Mr Alfonsi has said, and to applaud his work.

Macro-regional strategies offer very interesting prospects for decentralised collaborative projects in the Mediterranean region. I think they provide an appropriate framework for the problems of this region, where, in the light of last year’s events, we must develop active neighbourhood policies, aimed at young people in particular.

I would like to stress three particular points from my opinion.

The first is cooperation in the field of youth, by promoting the European programmes designed for them, and through synergies with the work of the Mediterranean Office for Youth, which needs to be more publicised.

The second is the creation of networks between Euro-Mediterranean universities and the removal of obstacles to the movement of students, lecturers and researchers, by simplifying visa procedures for these groups in particular. This is essential and urgent.

The third is the quality of teaching and research in these networks, to be achieved by supporting and adequately funding the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes and, I must stress, by automatically granting visas to these groups when they join the European programmes.

Thank you to Mr Alfonsi for his productive collaboration, and thank you to all the Members who contributed to this report.

  Silvia-Adriana Ţicău (S&D). – (RO) Mr President, I wish to emphasise the importance of macro-regional strategies, as well as the fact that they should be based on a multilevel governance, ensuring the involvement of local and regional authorities and representatives of civil society, universities and research centres in both the elaboration and the implementation of macro-regional strategies.

For a proper implementation of macro-regional strategies, we call for the operational programmes of the Member States to be closely geared to the corresponding priorities of these strategies. We call on the Commission and the Council to support fully the approach taken with the Danube basin, which should also be evaluated and regularly monitored. Parliament already requested in 2010 the allocation of EUR 1.5 billion for the preparatory action aimed at defining the governance model for implementing the European Union strategy for the Danube region in order to facilitate the implementation of this strategy.

  Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (PPE). – (EL) Mr President, I should like to start by congratulating Mr Alfonsi on the report he has presented to us and for all the preparations he has carried out and for consulting national and local authorities from the whole of the Mediterranean basin, from both north and south.

This really is a very important debate, because a well-structured macro-regional strategy will provide added value to national and European policies without the need for additional resources.

I would like to comment, in particular, on the initiative for the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region now under way; I believe that the Commission will shortly give the countries in the region the go-ahead, together with a specific strategy that will allow initiatives and cooperation to develop.

What is important is that this strategy incorporates a maritime dimension. I believe that this could provide a best practice for similar initiatives in other areas of the Mediterranean.

  Elena Băsescu (PPE). – (RO) Mr President, macro-regional strategies are beneficial since they create new opportunities for territorial cooperation projects. At the same time, they can ensure a better cooperation between regional programmes and the objectives of the 2020 Europe strategy. In this context, I wish to emphasise the extremely important role of the Baltic Sea strategy. This strategy has provided a reference framework for the cohesion policy.

I would also like to draw your attention to the opportunities in southern Europe. They should be put to use by means of enhanced cooperation in this region. The development of a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean Sea would be a step forward in this respect. This region has a similar culture and history and a significant potential. It offers ideal development conditions in terms of both maritime traffic and renewable energy sources.

End of the catch-the-eye procedure

  Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission. – Mr President, the Commission would like to thank Mr Alfonsi for his report on the evolution of the EU macro-regional strategies and, in particular, his interest in the EU strategy for the Mediterranean.

The Commission is conscious of continued political interest in a strategy for the Mediterranean, also keeping in mind the considerable political and practical difficulties. So the suggestion of the three strategies proposed by Mr Alfonsi – namely, western Mediterranean, eastern Mediterranean, and central Mediterranean, including the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas – is an interesting idea that needs to be further analysed. Nevertheless, progress has already been undertaken as regards the Adriatic and Ionian region, in particular, regarding its maritime issues.

The Commission continues to advise involved parties to draw lessons from the ongoing EU macro-regional strategies for the Baltic and the Danube, as well as a sea basin strategy for the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the Commission welcomes all initiatives for regions and countries to work together, either in the existing forms of cooperation, or in macro-regional strategies if this is considered to be the most appropriate solution.

The Commission reminds Members of the invitation made to the Member States in the European Council of June 2011 to continue work in cooperation with the Commission on possible future macro-regional strategies. Consequently, without prejudging the position of the Council as regards any possible future macro-regional strategy, the Commission is able to support progress which could be made in the framework of further Mediterranean cooperation.

Regarding money, there are two aspects. Firstly, the interested parties need a mandate adopted by Council to form this region and to form the format and framework for this region. Secondly, you will all be aware that the money is under substantial and intensive consideration and discussion in connection with the multiannual financial framework, where all Members of Parliament definitely play a part. So, all future macro-regional strategies depend very much on the future of the multiannual financial framework.

  President. – The debate is closed.

The vote will take place tomorrow (Tuesday, 3 July 2012).

Written statements (Rule 149)

  Monika Smolková (S&D), in writing. – (SK) The EU’s macro-regional strategies represent growth and prosperity for the whole of Europe. The cooperation of Member States at supra-national and macro-regional level is capable of resolving the systemic and factual problems of the Structural Funds, while at the same time eliminating the risk of an individual Member State failing. It was a good idea to create the Baltic Sea strategy and the Danube strategy, but in the interests of securing the overall success of this process, it is also necessary for the management structure to be extended to local and regional bodies and, at the same time, the strategy must be incorporated into the future programming period for 2014-2020. I agree with the draft resolution on introducing the mandatory allocation of resources for operational programmes in respect of macro-regional priorities, on support for growth and employment, and on the application of new innovative cooperation instruments at supra-national and macro-regional levels.

  Georgios Stavrakakis (S&D), in writing. – (EL) I should like to congratulate the rapporteur on his report. Macro-regional strategies help to promote cooperation, enhance synergies with major Community policies and create real European added value. They must be based on the principle of multilevel governance, in order to safeguard cooperation between local, regional and national authorities. Establishing a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean could help the participating states to address specific problems caused by the characteristics of certain areas, such as drought, maritime pollution and the development of tourism. As far as the islands are concerned, the European Commission should apply a strategic plan to address the structural weaknesses of island territories and make island territories equally competitive with mainland territories, so as to reduce the gap between different levels of development among European regions and ensure their effective integration in the single market. This could best be ensured through the allocation of appropriate resources and the adoption of an integrated approach in the fields of transport and energy. It is also to be hoped that the Commission will take a positive stand when considering State aid, which constitutes legal compensation with respect to the handicaps of insularity.