Do you speak cohesion?

Show Notes

In the first edition of “Do you speak cohesion?” we are breaking down the elements of the cohesion policy or regional development funds, providing a better understanding over the European Union’s support mechanism. We will be explaining what is cohesion policy’s main objective, how it started and which are the main factors that shaped this vital  “engine” for the development of the Union.

The regional and development fund was firstly introduced in 1975 and it was implemented in 1988 after Spain, Portugal and Greece joined the EU. But how does it help today to reduce the disparities between the various regions and reassure the competitiveness of the less expanded economies?

We will also talk about how cohesion policy can help the member states tackle the new economic challenges and repercussions caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

What is Do you speak cohesion??

Cohesion Policy is the European Union’s mechanism that supports its economic and social cohesion. Its’ main subjective is to reduce the disparities between the various regions and reassure the competitiveness of the less expanded economies. The regional development funds, the “engine” of cohesion policy, are vital to each country’s economy because the define the development of many sectors, such as tourism, infrastructure, education and others. Cohesion policy is a key element in the Union’s disposal to tackle any possible crisis, such as the COVID- 19 crisis.

you're listening. Do you speak cohesion, a podcast hosted by me, Beatriz Rios. That brings you the insights of cohesion policy. The European union's region on development policy.

The first duo that came into good hands was a youngster from Syria. He was eight years old and it was living together with a Flemish youngster from 20. And the Flemish youngster helped, um, subscribe this Syrian refugee for, I think the Belgian championship for certain sports, he was really, really good at and the refugee won the championship and the buddy was, was there the whole time to provide support during the champion.

My name is . I was a previous project coordinator of the co-housing project to hands in Antwerp to rant is co-housing project for refugees and accompanied young refugees between 18 and 21 years old, who were cohabitating weights, uh, Flemish. A buddy system X, uh, exists in a lot of countries, but no country ever, um, put a refugee together with a Flemish person in one house.

And that's something we want to create in enter by the funding of urban, innovative, extra funds. We saw that a lot of refugees when they turn into adulthood, when they become 18 years old. They're legal, guardian drops out. They need to leave the shelter. And suddenly they're standing there all by themselves being 18

years.

So

they needed affordable housing and they also needed more integration. But we also know when, when you turn 18 years old, you don't want to sit in classrooms, listening about integration course the whole time. So that's why we invented the buddy system where you have a one-on-one integration with a local buddy whose informal learning.

You knew things while you're living together. There was a formal part where we educated two youngsters with Dutch classes, activation courses. But on the other side, we saw the most impact of the project on the informal way by living together with the. The really nice thing that the city of Antwerp is making this regular services without funding because we side has a really big impact, um, refugees and the local Flemish people.

We also have now some couples who went outside projects looked for a private house themselves and still living together as a.

Current these house Shireen project aim Belgian Julian told us about was co-financed through the European region on the fund or E R D F, which is one of the so-called you a stripped out of funds and was actually at the origins of the cohesion policy.

We asked who is the chairman of the region on the bellman committee at the European parliament, to explain to us what these phonies about. The

the regional development funding is the engine of cohesion policy, because it is one of the main funds that allows supporting investment in the European regions, supporting employment. And therefore it is extremely important for regions to have Europe support and their development strategy.

now let's travel to the past and the, into the European union. Even though the origins of policies addressing regional imbalances can be traced back to the treaty of Rome. The region on the Bellarmine fund that was introduced in 1975, but it is not until 1988. When the cohesion policy has winning. What's created.

These happens doing a very significant period for Europe because only a few years earlier, Greece, and then Portugal and Spain had joined that you qualities between member states had widen as a result. nasty.

the

But these was a key moment for you integration also because it was in 1986 when the single act, which led to the creation of the single market was approved. In the medium term. First of all, it is a question of making irreversible and spirits and indeed the completion of the large frontier free market, which you need.

I remind you was presented to you in the inaugural speech in January, 1985, as the driving force behind the relaunch of community construction. Here's the then president of the European commission, Jack Della announcing that member states had agreed to the plan. All the and the commission will shortly be sending you a document in which the link between the competitiveness of the European economy and the completion of the single market is quite extraordinary and astonishing.

Even within a common market. There were enormous divergencies between members states collusion policy was ease, meant to tackle the social and economic distress. Within the European union. This is how the corn commissioner for cohesion and reforms. It is a fajita explaining. Well, cohesion is absolutely central.

It is central because the

European,

this, uh, this machinery that we have organized is based on free competition. I mean, but different countries have really different levels of competitiveness from the start. So since the beginning cohesion policy was there so that the weakest economies could

catch. In a way that they would be able to play the game.

Okay. But why do you have an EU politician would have to explain to their city sense? What coalition party. What would they tell them? Cohesion funds are the most important ones in the European union. And that's because it affects everyday people's lives. From schools, hospitals, environmental works, new roads, even culture tourism, and supporting the enterprises, the SMEs around.

All these are funds that can be used through cohesion policy. We ask these precise question to , who is the governor of the region of central Macedonia in Greece and the precedent of the European committee of the regions through the cohesion funds. We can make all the changes happen in Europe and upgrade the.

Of every single citizen in the European union

cohesion policy is solidarity. The European countries gathered to show solidarity one another. And cohesion policy is the policy that implements this solidarity because the principle is the less you are developed. The more you benefit from Europe support through cohesion. Cohesion policy has become one of the main investment policies of the, just to give you an idea for the next long-term budget.

From 2021 to 2027, we are talking about 377 billion euros, which is around one third of the. However, when it comes to the impact, the results that we find in the academic literature, the first significantly, well Sama studies argued that the ear and funds have had a very positive effect ingredients across Europe, including from an economic perspective.

Others do not find any pieces of. For instance, a reason, a study published by the economic think tank. Google found that the cohesion fund that targets the poorest regions in Europe was the only one actually contributing directly to. Never that has the same as study defense that these mixed results over the potential impact of cohesion policy can actually be explained by the difficulties to distinguish between the impact of national and new expenditure, because the social economic context varies quite a lot from country to country, but also because some effects are simply too hard to measure.

What it is clear though, is. These investment policy has been a key element of you action in times of crisis from the financial downturn in 2008 to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, be fence the added value of your structural funds, especially in terms of.

we were affected by a very serious crisis. In 2008, the importance, the mobilization of cohesion funds considerably helped to temper the effects of the crisis in all European regions. Today, we are confronted with the COVID crisis and it is the cohesion policy that has entered into action to temper the disastrous catastrophic consequences of today's crisis in every sector, in every region.

One of the first decisions the European commission took at the beginning of the. Was to allow member states to reallocate cohesion funds into the most effected sectors and regions in July. The European council agreed on a 1.8 trillion Euro recovery plan and cohesion, including through a new instrument called react to you, meant to tackle the most immediate consequences of the crisis is a key element of the.

However, the European parliament and the council of the EU that represents the number of states still have a very difficult negotiation. I had to define the objectives, the application criteria and the terms on the reach countries will be able to access the cohesion funds for the next seven years of.

Well, we'll closely follow these discussions, but for now, this is it for me. My name is better. Korea's disease. Do you speak cohesion? And you can find out more about the use regional [e-mail].

This podcast is

part of EURACTIVs project, Let's meet cohesion policy, a journey through regions, challenges, and success to. Funded by the European union.

This publication reflects only the views of the author and the European commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.