A Cohesion policy aligned to today's challenges and built on a pragmatic approach. The ECR Group welcomed Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Cohesion and Reform, who presented the mid-term review of the Coehesion Policy and welcome the plan for a Cohesion Policy that enhance financing programs for key strategic areas. 

"As we look to the future of the EU and the financing of our political priorities, we need a pragmatic approach. One of the key calls of our Group has been to better align cohesion policy with the emerging priorities and challenges facing the EU. Therefore, we strongly welcome the Commission's proposal to allow Member States and regions, on a voluntary basis, to allocate additional funding for the strategic priorities", said Władysław Ortyl, ECR 1st Vice-President and Marshal of the Podkarpackie Region.

The ECR Group welcomes the possibility to invest more in competitiveness and defense objectives, given the urgent need to strengthen competitiveness and security, particularly in regions most exposed to geopolitical conflicts such as the Eastern border regions. 

"I have long been advocating for enhancing the synergies between cohesion policy and defence and dual-use technology industries, and I am pleased that we are finally tapping into this potential. Indeed, investments in dual-use technology and defence industries can enhance our resilience, competitiveness and regional development simultaneously", Mr Ortyl added. 

Vice-President Fitto acknowledge the need to have a more simplified and less-bureaucratic Cohesion Policy as well as the need to accelerate the implementation of programs, and to increase simplification and flexibility. Our Group further welcomes the possibility for higher pre-financing of 30% and co-financing of 100%, which enables regions to quickly reprogram funds to the strategic priorities without having to block excessive amounts from their own budgets. "At the same time, the ability to expand support also for large enterprises will be key to drive our competitiveness, as large companies are at the forefront of developing new innovations and technologies. This is the case especially in the automotive sector, for which the support will be crucial, given the current crisis", Mr Ortyl concluded.