PES ministers in charge of cohesion policy have called for an appropriate level of investment following the Commission’s draft seven-year budget, which includes proposed cuts to cohesion funding after 2020.

Following their meeting on 12 April in Luxembourg, PES ministers adopted a joint declaration this week reiterating that cohesion policy must remain the clearest expression of EU solidarity – and a priority in terms of financial means.

PES president Sergei Stanishev stated that:

“In the next seven years we must increase Europe’s integration, solidarity and fairness. Nobody should be left behind in either rural or urban areas. Cohesion policy is one of our best tools to bridge inequalities, so I hope that the upcoming negotiations on the EU budget will focus on strengthening those funds.

“Cohesion policy must retain the necessary means to attain its objectives. Europe’s job is to bring about convergence, not further divergence. Our best investment policy must remain ambitious beyond 2020.”

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