Third Cohesion Report of the European Commission – conclusions for Poland

Article abstract:

Based on the latest European Commission 'Report on Economic and Social Cohesion', we may expect a division of the EU's future cohesion policy into two main lines. The first line will be directed at assistance to regions lagging behind economically. It will almost entirely consist of investment into public works and will be centralised at the national level. The second line will be increasingly directed at achieving the objectives of the Lisbon agenda. Its procedures will be simplified a great deal and it will be managed regionally. This policy line will benefit regions in the 'old' Member States. The proposed division of the EU's cohesion policy is detrimental to Poland and may lead to the preservation of economic and structural disparities between the European centre and its periphery. Poland should declare itself in favour of keeping the bulk of the Lisbon agenda priorities in the new cohesion policy. It should also strive towards a modification of the Commission's proposals so as to enable the countries in Central and Eastern Europe to take advantage of the Objective 2 of the cohesion policy. It should also continue to oppose a re-nationalisation of the European cohesion policy.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion3/cohesion3_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/reports/cohesion3/cohesion3_en.htm

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