Commissioner Elisa Ferreira hosted representatives of 50 regions including Vojvodina European Office
A regular annual meeting was held in Brussels on 18 February 2020 in the headquarters of the European Commission between Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms and representatives of regional offices in Brussels. Representatives of around fifty regional offices attended the meeting, together with the representatives of Vojvodina European Office in Brussels.
Commissioner Ferreira emphasized that she hopes for successful cooperation with the regional representatives during her mandate, especially because the majority of the cohesion policies are implemented on the very level of the local and regional governments.
It was emphasized that the accent of the future cohesion policies, especially in the light of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) should be within the environmental protection policies and projects, i.e. the fight against the negative effects of the climate change. The Commissioner spoke about the future challenges of the transition of the economy where the EU has a goal for classical/industrial economies to move on to the green economy.
The representatives of the EU member state regions expressed their concern over the announced reduction of cohesion budget in the upcoming MFF,and in favour of the European Investment Fund. Director of the Carinthia Liaison Office (Аustria) invited the Commissioner to, among other things, focus on intensifying the cross-border cooperation, during her upcoming mandate, especially within the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs). The representatives of the Košice Region emphasized that the cohesion funds are necessary for the policies of keeping the young in the regions of Slovakia, that is, to preserve workplaces. Helsinki region from Finland pointed the Commissioner to the relevance of the support for the policies of innovations.
AP Vojvodina’s representatives have exchanged the contact details with the cabinet of the newly elected Commissioner, as well as with some representatives of the regional offices.