The debate on a renewed cohesion policy in the future financial perspective 2028-2035, also in the context of strengthening EU competitiveness, is one of the main topics of discussion during the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. The discussion concerns, among other things, directions for improving cohesion policy while preserving its core principles, including the involvement of regional and local authorities.

There is no cohesion without competitiveness, but there is also no competitiveness without cohesion. The two dimensions are complementary, not mutually exclusive,

said Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy, at a meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development (REGI).

The involvement of regional and local actors is key to enhancing competitiveness and building the economic security of the European Union,

stressed the Minister.

Speeches before European Parliament committees are a regular feature of the Presidency's cooperation with the EP. Cooperation with the REGI Committee is crucial, especially in the context of future work on the legislative package for cohesion policy.

Cohesion policy, regions and local communities key to EU competitiveness

The Minister for Funds and Regional Policy pointed out at the REGI Committee meeting that new instruments to promote competitiveness at both EU and national level should take into account the different situations in individual EU countries and regions.

Our model of development should be: let the big become even bigger, but let the small become medium and the medium become bigger. The development model must not only be directed at making the richest richer, although this is very important, but also at making those who are under pressure at the moment and need support richer,

Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said. 

The head of the MFiPR stressed that increasing competitiveness, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, decarbonisation and defence, as Mario Draghi proposes in his report, could carry the risk of concentrating investment in agglomerations and the most developed regions.

Our aim should be to create conditions in which competitiveness and cohesion are mutually reinforcing rather than mutually exclusive,

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz reiterated.

Priorities of the Polish presidency

The minister emphasised that the motto of the Polish Presidency is "Safety, Europe!". Security understood as external and internal security, digital security, economic security, food security, energy security and health security.

The secure Union is an economically strong, competitive Union, which is not dependent on external suppliers of raw materials and technology, which is itself the creator and developer of new solutions from which others can benefit,

said the head of the MDFRP.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz pointed out that for the Common Market to function properly and for the EU to increase its competitiveness, it is also essential to use all the EU's potential and for citizens to have access to essential public goods and services. In this context, the Minister mentioned further assistance to impoverished regions and the removal of the negative effects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine in the regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

These are the border regions of the European Union and carry the burden of security on behalf of all our member states,

emphasised Minister K. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.

Cohesion policy in the future financial perspective 2028-2034

The Minister for Funds and Regional Policy pointed out that there is an intense debate in the EU on, among other things, the future of cohesion policy, and there is a strong conviction among Member States on the need to preserve the key principles of cohesion policy. These are: shared management, the partnership principle, multi-level management and a place-based approach. She stressed the need to talk about a more results-based governance model for cohesion policy, including reforms and investment.

Politics should be pragmatic and less ideological. Up till now, the debate with the Member States on the future of cohesion policy has shown the need for flexibility and simplification,

Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said.

The head of the MDFRP mentioned greater flexibility in responding to the needs of the regions and their inhabitants and the need for "wise deregulation", replacing bans and injunctions with incentives and relying on trust and dialogue instead of control.

If we are thinking about reforms and investments in cohesion policy, they should be designed and implemented from the bottom up, with the involvement of regional and local authorities on an equal partnership basis,

the head of the MDFRP stressed.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz announced an ambitious approach to the midterm review of cohesion policy. The idea is that, in response to the new conditions, certain changes in its activities and ways of implementation should be implemented right now. The Minister cited the need to consider the issue of access to housing "with greater attention and ambition" in the current midterm review. 

Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz meeting the chairman of the REGI Committee

Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also discussed the priorities of the Polish Presidency in the area of regional and cohesion policy during a meeting with Chairman of the EP REGI Committee Adrian-Dragoş Benea.
The Minister also met Marcos Sempere, rapporteur for the report that the REGI Committee is preparing on cohesion policy support for housing.