Marshal Hołownia, (Holowna)
Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, (Pelchynska-Nalecz, Katarzyna)
Executive Vice-President Mînzatu,
Mayor Miszalski,(Misalski)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for this timely opportunity to come together to discuss Europes growth policy and the role of European cohesion policy.
Particular thanks to Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz (Pelchynska-Nalecz, Katarzyna) for the organization and welcome.
I am very glad to be in Poland.
The convergence of Poland during its 20 years in the EU is a success story.
It is a telling example of what cohesion policy can deliver.
Today, more than ever, we need to learn from experience, such as the one of Poland.
As a former president of a region, and a former cohesion minister, I know the value of experience. And I also know how crucial cohesion policy is.
Cohesion policy is more crucial than ever. Because Europe faces many challenges.
Competitiveness in a fast-changing world.
The green and the digital transitions.
The demographic transition with an aging population and demographic decline. Especially in rural areas.
And competition for skilled workers and brain drain, in many European regions.
The right to stay means the right of every European to stay, in the place they call home.
To enjoy the right to stay, there must be good reasons to stay.
Strong public services, healthcare and education, and a dynamic private sector.
Jobs, housing, skills, public transportation, digital connections.
Food security, clean and safe water.
And security.
Delivering all this is the only way to guarantee to every citizen a real right to stay in the place they call home.
Particularly in areas facing significant challenges such as the outermost regions, rural areas, and islands.
And border regions.
I am fully aware of the delicate challenges facing the border regions, notably along our eastern borders.
This is why I visited Lappeenranta, in Finland, last week.
Just 30km from the Russian border, the city faces socio-economic issues exacerbated by reduced trade and security concerns, in particular regarding the instrumentalization of migration.
These are issue very relevant also in other Member States and it is why will also intend to visit the eastern Polish border regions.
My visit also carried a strong symbolic message of support for Ukraine.
Our solidarity with Ukraine is a concrete defence of our shared European values.
Later today, I will honour in Auschwitz the memory of the Jews, of the Polish and of the many other victims of the terrible genocide that took place in the heart of Europe.
We must never forget.
We must learn from our history and foster our EU values of equality, respect, empathy and understanding every day to prevent such atrocities.
And we must make every effort to protect the people and the regions bearing the greatest cost for the defence of our shared values.
Cohesion policy has a key role to play.
Over the past years, Cohesion policy has always risen to the challenge. But times are changing, and the policy must change with them.
We need to ensure that cohesion policy remains focused and effective. It must be modernised.
For this, I have written to every Minister for Cohesion Policy. I began meeting them to assess the effectiveness of cohesion policy and identify possible improvements.
I have visited Croatia and Finland.
Yesterday, I met Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz (Katarzyna Pelchynska-Nalecz), and I found a promising alignment of views on the present and the future of cohesion. We will work together to ensure the success of the Policy Presidency on these matters.
I am receiving Ministers in Brussels. In the coming weeks, I will continue to engage.
I will be in very close contact with the European Parliament, notably its REGI committee which hosted me on Tuesday, and with the Committee of the Regions, as well as with the many stakeholders involved in cohesion.
I will discuss with them how to foster a more secure, resilient, and competitive Union.
I will stress the fundamental role of cohesion policy in meeting these goals.
My key messages are as follows:
First, to accelerate the implementation of the current programmes.
As you know, this cycle had a slower start than the previous one.
In recent months, there have been some improvements, but more needs to be done.
In the letter to Ministers, I outlined the importance of the upcoming mid-term review of cohesion programmes. It is a golden opportunity. To ensure that funding is absorbed more rapidly. To take the next step in adapting the policy to emerging needs. To realign programme priorities.
I encourage all of you in this room, who can contribute to that review in your country, to avoid a bureaucratic approach, and make the best of this exercise. By accelerating expenditure. And by looking for ways to simplify the procedures.
Second message, we need to progress on the key initiatives put forward by President von der Leyen in her Political Guidelines.
Among them, the EU Agenda for Cities and access to affordable and sustainable housing.
A stronger focus on urban development can help address the needs of the 75% of Europeans living in cities and urban areas.
For this reason, the Commission will develop an Agenda for cities. It will outline the EUs strategic approach to sustainable urban development, focusing on housing, climate action, digitalization, mobility, social inclusion, and equality.
Local authorities, as Mayor Miszalski (Misalski) knows, will have a key role to play. I intend to work closely with mayors in developing and implementing this Agenda.
While the timeline for preparing the political agenda is still under discussion, stakeholder involvement is vital.
Attractive European cities must also offer affordable homes. And housing is also crucial in rural areas and less developed regions.
Cohesion policy has long supported the EU housing sector with significant investments, making housing greener, more resilient, and more accessible. However, more work is needed.
The Commission is working on two fronts:
We are preparing the first European Plan for Affordable Housing. The proposed changes will enable Member States to double investments in affordable housing and inject liquidity into the market.
Additionally, we will roll-out of the New European Bauhaus. This initiative will ensure housing projects are inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient but also more integrated and enriching for the environments and communities around them.
Third message, we need to prepare for the next cycle of cohesion policy
With upcoming negotiations for the next MFF, we are at a decisive point.
Cohesion policy MUST continue to add value for the Union.
How will we do this?
By focusing strategically on our joint priorities: reducing economic, social, and territorial disparities across the EU.
By aligning the policy;
By simplifying the EU funding landscape both for beneficiaries and managing authorities,and creating synergies across EU funds and instruments.
By following the guiding star of “a more effective policy”. This calls for a more performance-based delivery model. Through a combination of investment and reforms. And through good governance and administrative capacity-building.
By interventions which are tailor-made for each Member State, each region, each city.
By giving local and regional authorities a say in the design, management and implementation.
By higher flexibility. Keeping the focus on long-term objectives. But making room for emerging priorities.
And last, but not least, by listening to those who know the needs and challenges the best. The key actors of cohesion policy, such as you all in the room today.
And my fourth message is that the Commission will listen carefully.
Today and until the Cohesion Policy of the next cycle will be put in place.
We need to write a new chapter in our policy.
Your input will be relevant for the preparation of the future of our policy. And for our work together, over the coming years.
Our common goal is clear: to reinforce cohesion policy to deliver tangible benefits for all Europeans.
Let us write this chapter together.
Let us write it well. For all the regions of Europe and for our future!