European Regional Funds and the multi-annual Financial Framework

Despite Brexit and new priorities, it is important to keep EU funds for all regions – rich and poor – argues EU regions commissioner Corina Cretu in an interview with EUobserver. But more controls, including a link to rule of law issues, are part of the discussion.

Commissioner Cretu, said that the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is very emotional. But this time it was much more than that because we have Brexit – which means we have lost the second-largest contributor – and new challenges, like migration, cross-border security, defence. I think we did a great job in proposing a package for a modern, simpler, flexible cohesion policy that covers all regions. We have managed to keep an envelope that is big enough to keep funding for poorer regions – more than 70 percent is going to poorer regions – and also for the rich ones. These are the policies that show the most tangible results in the life of citizens.

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