Together with State Secretary Florian Hassler, the local authority state associations of Baden-Württemberg invited guests to the Baden-Württemberg state representation on November 29, 2023. The focus was on the future of cohesion policy. Representatives from the municipal level in Baden-Württemberg, the European Commission and the European Parliament discussed the future direction of cohesion policy after 2027. The discussants were united by the need for a cohesion policy based on solidarity, which must continue to include all regions in Europe in the future.
What keeps us together in the face of multiple crises?
In his keynote speech, Peter Berkowitz, Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO), outlined the central question of what holds Europe together in the midst of multiple crises. A functioning and forward-looking cohesion policy, which is based on various principles, plays an important role here: the focus on all regions; the adaptation to local conditions and the consideration of regional differences; the emphasis on the multi-level governance approach and the relevance of the partnership principle. These are among the findings of the group of experts convened by the Commission on the future of cohesion.
Openness for change
In the Commission’s view, there is a fundamental openness for change in the way European cohesion policy is constructed. However, all stakeholders involved must share this interest. Adjustments could be made in the following areas, among others: the demand for more flexible and simpler funding, the consideration of not only financial but also other indicators to determine the definition of regional differences, better horizontal and vertical integration of European policy and cohesion and increased coordination with the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Challenges facing local authorities in Baden-Württemberg
Local authorities are confronted with numerous legislative projects at regional, national and European level. At the same time, they have had to deal with various crises over the past ten years, from geopolitical to global financial, economic, health, climate and energy crises. The ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, high inflation in the eurozone and the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine are also affecting the ability of local authorities to ensure democratic participation and vital services. In order to overcome these challenges, a focus on what is essential, necessary and feasible for the municipal level is required. This also applies to cohesion policy. In the joint panel discussion, Prof. Dr. Matthias Knecht, Mayor of the City of Ludwigsburg and member of the European Pool of Municipal State Associations, outlined the need to mobilize private capital in order to meet the enormous costs of the transformation to climate neutrality. This would have to work in partnership with the public sector. Katja Fischer, Mayor of the town of Trochtelfingen and member of the European Pool of Local authority Associations, called for a fairer distribution of funding and trust in municipal project sponsors, particularly in the case of LEADER. Prof. Dr. Alexis v. Komorowski, Chief Executive of the Baden-Württemberg Regional Council, emphasized the need for financial support for economically strong regions, as the effects of the transformation are having a strong impact here, but European cohesion policy does not yet offer a comprehensive response. In the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development, Matthias Ecke (SPD, Saxony) advocates a cohesion policy that continues to address all regions in a spirit of solidarity. In the discussion moderated by Patrick Wegener, Head of the European Office of Local Authorities in Baden-Württemberg, it became clear that a cohesion policy with the right answers for the future would not come about on its own, but that interests would now have to be actively represented to the Commission, the Parliament and the Member States in the Council.
Europe must stick together
In his outlook, Steffen Jäger, President and Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Municipalities Association, made it clear that the European Union is facing major changes: challenges such as digitalization, climate change and the current geopolitical power shifts are having a major impact on politics, society and local authorities. In order to tackle these major tasks, all levels of government need to work together as partners on an equal footing – between Brussels, Berlin, Stuttgart and the local authorities. This partnership needs to be intensified in cohesion policy in order to find the necessary answers to the challenges of tomorrow together. The first step must be a cohesion policy based on solidarity that takes all regions and local authorities in the EU into account.
Discussion at the right time
With their position paper and the event in Brussels, the local government associations have made a timely contribution, as discussions on the future of cohesion policy are becoming increasingly concrete. On the same day, the Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on the future of cohesion policy and the following day the Member States in the Council adopted their first conclusions. The Commission will present its 9th Cohesion Report in spring 2024. It is important to continue to play an active role in the development of cohesion policy and the European finances of tomorrow to ensure that regions and local authorities have a seat at the table.
Patrick Wegener, Head of the European Office of Local Authorities of Baden-Württemberg
Jonathan Koch, Deputy Head of the European Office of Local Authorities of Baden-Württemberg
Lukas Hochländer, intern at European Office of Local Authorities of Baden-Württemberg, student of Public Management B. A. at Kehl
