The AER and EU Cohesion policy: assessing the present and anticipating for the future

• AER workshops on structural funds: What kind of structural funds do we want to implement from 2014 onwards?
  Available to logged-in AER members only!

Next workshop: Simplification and daily management of structural funds (Alsace Regional Council, Strasbourg-F) - 1st October

3rd workshop: Management of the European Territorial Cooperation programmes, Brussels, date to be confirmed in mid-October.

• Open Letter to José Manuel Barroso on ESF

On 12th July 2010, AER expressed worries regarding a possible separation of the European Social Fund from Cohesion policy in an open letter to Mr José Manuel BARROSO, President of the European Commission.

• AER/Brussels Capital Conference on cohesion policy, 7/12/2010, Brussels
  

Under the aegis of the Belgian Presidency, this conference will be a milestone in the definition of cohesion policy. European Regions are warmly invited to come in great numbers and make their voices heard.

Reform agenda in the coming months:

• October 2010: the European Commission will publish the 5th report on cohesion and a 1st communication proposing orientations for future cohesion policy.

• December 2010: Informal Ministerial meeting on cohesion policy.

• Spring 2010: The European Commission will propose to the Council and the Parliament a new framework regulation defining the budget and main shape of future cohesion policy.

15 July 2010:

European Parliament: REGI Committee issues a position paper on future cohesion policy.

July - December 2010:

Starting up with the reform of cohesion policy is one of the main priorities for the Belgian Presidency.

April 2010:

EC Communication: Publication of the synthesis report of the ex-post evaluation of 2000-2006 programmes.

EC Communication: Cohesion policy - Strategic report 2010 on the implementation of the programmes 2007-2013

• AER Recommendations for the future cohesion policy 2013+
  AER official position on future cohesion policy, based on several declarations adopted since 2007 and on the reflection work carried out by the AER Task Force on cohesion policy.

• Open Letter to José Manuel Barroso on EU Budget
  On 23rd October 2009, AER reacted to an EC internal working paper, proposing “a budget reform agenda for the EU. This draft communication raised concerns at AER, expressed in the open letter below.

• AER contribution to the EC Green paper on territorial cohesion, 26 February 2009
  

• The AER study on future regional policy 2014+ was published in January 2008.
  Outcome of a consultation to which 60 Regions from over 22 European Countries, participated.