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Implementation of territorial development (CPR, Title III, Chapter II) and its application in the European Territorial agenda 2030

TA-9-2024-0010 · P9_TA(2024)0010 · PE750.084

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Parliament's resolution reviews how territorial development under the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) and the European Territorial Agenda 2030 (TA2030) has been implemented, and sets out what should change. It finds that use of integrated territorial investments (ITIs) and community-led local development (CLLD) is uneven across member states, and asks the Commission and member states to promote, simplify and fund these tools. It calls for a coherent review of the TA2030 by the end of 2024, for its priorities to be built into cohesion policy funds and programmes, and for funding earmarked for rural areas and regions with natural or demographic handicaps. It asks for less administrative burden, more technical support for local and regional authorities, rural proofing, and stronger links between territorial development and climate, gender and social goals.

Key points

  1. Notes that in 2014-2020 only 28 % of sustainable urban development strategies used ITIs, and asks the Commission to encourage use of such tools for the TA2030.
  2. Calls on the Commission and member states to reinforce LEADER by increasing its budget, giving Local Action Groups more autonomy and cutting administrative burden.
  3. Asks the Commission to use the 2024 evaluation report and CLLD/LEADER results for the 2021-2027 programmes, and regrets that a European Court of Auditors report found LEADER and CLLD benefits not sufficiently demonstrated.
  4. Welcomes the handbooks on territorial, local and sustainable urban development strategies, regrets their late publication, and asks for timely guidelines and more flexibility on policy objective 5 'Europe closer to citizens'.
  5. Calls on member states to promote strategic spatial planning beyond urban areas, strengthen rural-urban links and consider cross-border planning through bottom-up approaches such as CLLD and ITIs.
  6. Asks the Commission and Council to earmark funding for rural areas and regions with severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, as 8 % of cohesion policy funds is earmarked for the Urban Agenda.
  7. Calls for a paradigm shift in involving local and regional authorities, effective partnership and consultation before defining ITI and CLLD actions, and merging multi-programme strategies into a single track.
  8. Calls on the Commission to clarify differences between member states that use ITIs or CLLDs and those that do not, provide tailored technical support, and considers integrated territorial development tools should be mandatory.
  9. Calls on the Commission and member states to keep additional administrative rules to a minimum and focus on proportionality, since small projects face proportionally higher burdens and costs.
  10. Calls on member states to promote gender mainstreaming in TA2030 pilot projects, ensure decent working and living conditions and social protection, and apply rural proofing to future EU initiatives.
  11. Asks for TA2030 actions to play a central role in partnership agreements and programmes, with adequate funding and an allocation methodology in the future multiannual financial framework.
  12. Calls on the Commission and member states to carry out a coherent review of the TA2030 by the end of 2024, covering its governance, progress and priorities.

Who is affected

  • Local and regional authorities: to be involved earlier in planning, implementing and managing territorial tools, with more technical support.
  • Member states and managing authorities: to promote spatial planning, earmark funding for rural and handicapped regions, and simplify fund management.
  • Rural areas and regions with natural or demographic handicaps: to receive earmarked funding and benefit from rural proofing.
  • Local Action Groups and ITI partners: to gain more autonomy and dedicated advisory services.
  • Businesses: encouraged to collaborate with local and regional authorities on territorial development projects.

Figures and deadlines

  • 28 % of strategies for sustainable urban development were implemented through ITIs in 2014-2020.
  • 1 975 strategies were programmed in the 2014-2020 period among the then 28 member states.
  • EUR 19 billion from the European Regional Development Fund financed these strategies, of which EUR 13,8 billion went to ITIs in nine member states.
  • 8 % of cohesion policy funds are earmarked for programmes under the Urban Agenda.
  • A coherent review of the TA2030 is called for by the end of 2024.

Legal basis: Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013; Article 28 CPR; Article 8 CPR; Title XVIII of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.