The President of the CoR PES Group, Catiuscia Marini, reacted today to the intervention of Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, who joined the CoR members for a discussion on the EU long-term budget proposals for 2021-2027 published on 2 May and their potential implications for regions and cities.
While welcoming that more funds should be made available for research, the education of young people and migrants, President Marini voiced strong concerns over the proposed heavy cuts to cohesion and agriculture policies.
"We need to avoid that Europe's best solidarity tool is significantly downsized, bearing the brunt of both the best part of the cuts as a result of Brexit and the lack of political courage by Member States to invest in Europe. A strong cohesion policy that shows the EU added value in our cities and regions through concrete projects is more than needed at a time in which populism and Euroscepticism are on the rise", she emphasized, calling for swift negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework.
