Opinion on the ninth report on economic and social cohesion

19.2.2025

Mr AdrianDragoş Benea

Chair

Committee on Regional Development

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on the ninth report on economic and social cohesion (2024/2107(INI))

Dear Chair,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. At its meeting of 25 November 2024, our committee decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter.

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the letter on 19 March 2025, and decided to call on the Committee on Regional Development Committee, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into their motion for a resolution:

Yours sincerely,

Veronika Vrecionová

SUGGESTIONS

2. Points out that the public report on “The long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward” presented alongside the 9th Cohesion report, while acknowledges that 24.6bn euro or 8% of the Rural Development pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy is directed towards investments in rural areas beyond farming, setting the scene for a debate on the future of rural areas;

3. Points out that, as the European Union is looking at the future, it is indeed essential to recall the role that rural areas play in Europe and the core importance of their link with urban areas; Calls for Cohesion Policy to be more inclusive and adjustable to rural areas, and attentive to the urban-rural link; deplores that the share of the budget devoted to Cohesion Policy has decreased in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and that the specific financial tools for the development of rural areas, which depend either on the Common Agricultural Policy (LEADER) or on their mobilisation by national managing authorities, are already insufficiently funded;

4. Reminds that the conclusions of the Group of high-level specialists on the Future of the Cohesion Policy underline the need for a simplification shock, especially for rural areas, which often face complex administrative barriers that limit access to EU funding;

5. Insists that in addition to adjusting to regional needs, the Cohesion Policy must be adapted to the smallest scale: funds must be accessible to the smallest projects and project bearers; points out that their initiatives are often the most innovative and have a significant impact on rural development; reiterates that these funds should be accessible to all, regardless of their size or scope; approves of the call of the Cohesion Alliance, "For a post-2027 Cohesion Policy that leaves no one behind";

6. Regrets that as matters stand at present, rural areas, which after all are showcases for Europe, are still too often marginalised and face ongoing challenges, such as demographic change, digital transition, the need for sustainable agriculture producing affordable and high-quality food, and adapting to climate change; deplores that these areas often suffer from insufficient policy coordination;;

7. Points out that other funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF) – offer opportunities and solutions for rural areas;

8. Calls on the Commission to simplify access to EU funding and procedures under a coherent and flexible approach to territorial development, particularly for rural areas, while maintaining the principles of multi-level governance and partnership, in particular in view of a future enlarged EU;

9. Proposes that all relevant directorates-general of the European Commission be involved in a territorial and social impact assessment of policies for which they are responsible at least twice per programming period; is convinced that these evaluations would establish a more precise baseline and identify ways to integrate the characteristics of rural areas into European policies more effectively;

10. Reaffirms the importance of urban-rural linkages and of the development of inclusive strategies based on functional areas, with the aim of preventing rural areas from shrinking;

11. Notes that the cohesion policy and regional environmental strategies offer opportunities to support farmers and forest managers’ sustainable investments in climate change adaptation, in particular the prevention of floods, drought and fires;

12. Stresses the need to set cohesion policy and CAP objectives that are consistent and comparable with each other; stresses that these processes should take into account the gender perspective;

13. Calls on the Commission to identify and implement the necessary flexibility measures to ensure the transfer of unspent EU funds, channelling them to different agricultural sectors.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The Chair in her capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.