| Series Title | European Voice |
|---|---|
| Series Details | 08/05/97, Volume 3, Number 18 |
| Publication Date | 08/05/1997 |
| Content Type | News |
|
Date: 08/05/1997 Last week's Cohesion Forum to discuss the future of EU regional policy did little for cohesion within the Commission. In fact, it produced friction between officials attending the event on behalf of Commissioners Pádraig Flynn (social affairs) and Franz Fischler (agriculture) on the one hand and Monika Wulf-Mathies (regional affairs) on the other. The forum was supposed to be the great talking shop on regional policy and prepare for a review of the structural funds. The Commission even called in 1,200 experts from across the spectrum to hear their opinions. So why the friction? It was caused by the fact that Wulf-Mathies' DGXVI had prepared the conclusions in advance, which annoyed officials representing her Commission colleagues. Mind you, this is hardly an unusual practice: what about Fischler's disputed Cork Declaration (his blueprint for the future of regional policy), which was also prepared beforehand? A classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do'? |
|
| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
