Thorsten Sterk’s Post

There's a growing trend among Member States and the European Commission to shift focus away from key values like solidarity and equality. Instead, they lean towards a more economically liberal approach. This is problematic. But, Belgium and other like-minded Member States remain committed to the principles of development cooperation. We believe it's about ensuring access to care, enabling everyone to thrive, live safely, and safeguarding our planet. Read our full reaction to the Council conclusions on the mid-term evaluation of the EU external financing instruments and the EU Development Aid Targets: bit.ly/3RSmNyq

We must have a Cohesion Policy in the future.✔ Today, the European Parliament will debate the role regions and cities play in the EU in the #EPlenary.

Day 2 of July #EESCPlenary Today's second debate discussed the Resolution of the European Economic and Social Committee "No one should be left behind! For an inclusive and participatory cohesion policy in support of social, economic and territorial #cohesion" Find some key messages of our members below 🔽 💬 Wauthier Robyns de Schneidauer: #CohesionPolicy cannot be a footnote or an afterthought in the setup of the new European Commission The EU has to increase the effectiveness of cohesion instruments, both as a remedy to structural lagging and as a proof of solidarity when disaster strikes   💬Katrina Zarina #Cohesion policy is an answer for a globally competitive, internally resilient, and secure Europe and a pathway to increased economic growth, social stability, and territorial security. We need to focus on improving this policy, not destroying it. 💬David Sventek: We cannot manage the new challenges ahead of us from Brussels or the capitals alone. We need to harness the talent, energy and experience of people, institutions and companies from across the EU to be part of the solution.  Cohesion policy offers them this active involvement, inviting them to become co-creators of their own future.

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro lays out the clear choice before us. A key choice for the #future of the #EuropeanUnion: between a decentralised & dynamic Union, or a centralised & crystalised swamp. Between enabling #local and #regional #governments to push for #cohesion and #competitiveness, or creating a massive collection of national bottlenecks.

The weeks ahead will be decisive for Cohesion Policy. The Commissioner's hearings will happen between 4th-12th of November and the last day of the hearings will pose an opportunity to question the Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Rafaelle Fitto's. Last month, a draft for the new EU budget plan for 2028-2034 from the European Commission was leaked, which would reduce the 530 programmes currently in place for each Member-State into one single programme. In theory, it sounds nice, huh? Less bureaucracy, less hassle... But let's take a close look at it. This was the hot topic of the European Week of Regions and Cities(EWRC), organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission. What I have started to understand since the beginning of my traineeship is that Cohesion Policy is the backbone of Europe. This is what President Cordeiro has said time and time again during the EWRC... Cohesion policy aims to reduce disparities between regions by providing means for regional development, and local authorities are generally better positioned to identify and address the specific challenges and opportunities in their areas, since they are closer to the people. Centralizing cohesion policy in the EU can compromise the principle of subsidiarity by limiting local and regional autonomy, reducing accountability, slowing responsiveness, and neglecting local expertise. This will further detach local and regional authorities from the centres of decision. By allowing regions and local governments to take the lead in cohesion policy, the EU can enhance the effectiveness and accountability of its initiatives, fostering a Europe that is both united and respectful of its diversity. Another main issue, is that this new approach to the distribution of funds leaves more space for the misuse of funds. This is an aspect to be taken into account especially with the rise of anti-democratic feelings within the EU. The access to these funds would also need to be approved by the Commission, a.k.a. President von der Leyen, based on their performance to carry out reforms advised by the Union. Once again, Regions and Cities will take a secondary role to National Administration, delaying the implementation of much needed programmes related to Cohesion, Climate Disaster response, sustainability, housing, and so on. I had the opportunity to witness the power of this speech in person, let's review it before the hearings ahead. I am grateful to witness and learn from upclose the view of President Cordeiro for the role Cohesion Policy and LRAs should take in Europe. This is an issue that goes beyond Political affiliation, this is an issue that touches all of us in the same way. To quote the President: "Get out of this room, spread the word, and please, FIGHT!"

There is no alternative... We must have a Cohesion Policy in the future.✔ Today, the European Parliament will debate the role regions and cities play in the EU in the #EPlenary. ❗ To deliver a closer, stronger, more cohesive and more ambitious European Union, the path starts in our regions and cities. ❗ To further contribute to a green, social and prosperous local development, not only regions and cities, but the European Union at large, will need a stronger and renewed #CohesionPolicy. Cohesion policy must keep its 🌟golden principles🌟: ✔ shared management ✔ partnership ✔multi-level governance and ✔ place-based approach. 👉 It also needs to become more flexible and be simplified for all the actors involved in its design, management and implementation. As regions and cities in the EU, we stand ready to cooperate in the context of a loyal, frank and committed partnership with all European institutions. The voice of Europe’s regions and cities must not only be heard, it must be the start of a new path for our common future. 📌 Speech by the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro during #EURegionsWeek.

With strong support from the EC, preparations of a new European Territorial Agenda continue with the objective of a stronger territorial dimension in the cohesion policy as well as other EU policies in the post-27 period #HU24EU @Budapest

May #EESCplenary continues   Today's first debate focused on the future of #CohesionPolicy with the participation of Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions and Prof. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Chair of the Group of High-Level Specialists on the Future of Cohesion Policy 🔽 💬 Katrina Zarina: EU citizens have high expectations. A well-funded, smartly managed #CohesionPolicy is the answer for economic growth, global #competitiveness, and the safety and defence of EU citizens. 💬 Gonçalo da Gama Lobo Xavier: To continue the success story of #CohesionPolicy, social partners and #CivilSociety have to be seriously involved on the regional level.   💬 Udo Hemmerling: Cohesion and the #SingleMarket are siblings. For a successful economic development, we have to think about them together.   💬 Rapporteur Matteo Borsani presented the opinion ECO/646 on the Ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion: 🤝#CohesionPolicy means working together. It is an asset for the Union, which can truly profit all EU citizens. Read the opinion: https://europa.eu/!t9Bp7X

Reconnecting the British to Europe: Strategic Imperatives and Inconvenient Truths 🔍 #Europe’s future demands bold action—and that includes the #UK. 🌍 Dive into this publication by Dirk Hazell that explores the strategic necessity of stronger UK-EU cooperation. 🤝 Key areas of focus include: - Environmental #policy - A European #capital market - #Defence collaboration 📖 Read more: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGDayUEC #ThinkingTogether #FocusFuture 

“Nobody knows the solution to every problem; rather than blindly following the prescriptions of others, Africans need to think and act for themselves, and learn from their mistakes.”― Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environmental and political activist (1940–2011) António Guterres, the U.N. Secretary-General, has warned that we are in an "adaptation emergency" and must "act like it." As we respond, a promising approach is empowering communities to design and implement solutions, managing and distributing resources locally. This grassroots strategy - communities thinking and acting for themselves - can significantly scale adaptation efforts compared to top-down approaches. I found this recent opinion piece insightful, particularly because it highlights how community-driven action can accelerate adaptation strategies. Who better to shape the course of action than those directly facing the consequences? The author who runs an NGO in Kibera, Kenya reminds us: "We must be more than just bystanders, the passive recipients of aid in adaptation. Community leaders and local organizations must lead adaptation efforts. We, not the external groups who work in our communities, are the most knowledgeable about our local environment, and we have the most at stake." — Kennedy Odede Read more here ➡️