Rudy Demotte: ‘The Structural Funds are a growth factor for the Regions’
On 13 July, the Minister-President of the Walloon Region and the French-speaking Community presented the Belgian Presidency’s programme on cohesion policy to European MEPs.
Speaking before the European Parliament, Rudy Demotte, the Walloon Minister-President, stressed how the cohesion policy enshrined in the Treaties was essential for the continuation of balanced European development.
He stressed that this was particularly true in view of the current economic and social circumstances, while we continue to experience the crisis and its disastrous consequences for employment and social cohesion.
Through its communication on the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy, the Commission outlined the extent to which the crisis had highlighted the structural weaknesses of Europe’s economy.
However, Rudy Demote said that the Structural Funds were a factor in sustainable growth for European regions, territories and cities. Structural Funds deployment triggers highly significant leverage effects. They make it possible to put in place structural tools producing beneficial long-term results in terms of economic development and job creation.
In addition, he stated that cohesion policy was a fundamental support tool in the further development of the internal market.
In the view of the Belgian Presidency, itis therefore highly desirable for the EU’s capacity for action through the Structural Funds to be maintained and even stepped up. Cohesion policy must continue to be a significant vehicle for support for regional development throughout the European Union.
Within this framework, we will also ask ourselves about the way it fits together with other European policies and instruments.
These various subjects will be debated at the informal meeting of Ministers for Cohesion Policy, to be held on 22 and 23 November 2010 in Liège.
