Plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions: the cohesion policy as one of the cornerstones of the European Union
02.04.2025
Socio-economic and territorial cohesion is of key importance to achieving the EU's goals, including the economic security, resilience, competitiveness as well as environmental and digital transformation, Deputy Minister Jan Szyszko said. The deputy minister of the MDFRP attended a plenary meeting of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, focusing on the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
The cohesion policy and competitiveness go hand in hand. There is no competitiveness without cohesion and there is no cohesion without competitiveness
- Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Jan Szyszko said.
The Deputy Minister has stressed that EU Member States and regions currently face a number of challenges, such as global geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine and the urgent need to increase the EU competitiveness, resilience, security and defence. These factors make the motto of our Presidency “Security, Europe!” particularly relevant.
The Deputy Minister of the MDFRP emphasised that the cohesion policy and strong regions are essential to enhancing economic security. Through the cohesion policy, we are increasing our resilience, accelerating our digital and energy transformation and strengthening the unity of our societies.
Europe can only be safe if all regions act in a coherent way and develop together
- Jan Szyszko added.
Deputy Minister, Jan Szyszko also highlighted the successes of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. He referred, among others, to the “Council Conclusions on cohesion and the cohesion policy beyond 2027” adopted by the General Affairs Council on 28 March 2025. They highlighted the importance of economic, social and territorial cohesion and its role in addressing the challenges facing the EU. The need to increase the competitiveness of the EU as a whole and the cohesion between countries and regions was also emphasised. This will help deliver the EU strategic priorities in a mutually complementary way.
