The Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted today by overwhelming majority the opinion of the ECR First Vice-President Rob Jonkman on the Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (the Facility), following a debate with Members and Maarten Verwey, European Commission's Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs. 

The opinion underscores the overall insufficient involvement of regions and cities in National Recovery and Resilience Plans, which puts their effectiveness at risk. The opinion builds on the discussions at the first High-Level Forum on Regional Recovery and Resilience organised last week by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in Lipica (Slovenia). 

It warns that a too centralised approach leads to territorial differences being overlooked. It highlights the need to improve the coordination between the plans and cohesion policy, as well as other EU programmes. The long-term target should be a thorough reform of the European Semester with a Code of Conduct for involving local and regional authorities.

Rapporteur Rob Jonkman, Alderman of the municipality of Opsterland said: 

"The economic and social recovery, as well as the green and digital transitions can only succeed if local and regional authorities are directly involved in preparing and implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plans. The picture of the level of cities and regions' involvement in preparing the national plans varies widely among Member States. There is a need for greater ownership and structural involvement of local and regional authorities in the Member States, only this way the national plans can be implemented successfully."

The Facility will make €672.5 billion in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States. The aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.

The opinion will be up for final adoption during the CoR plenary session in December.