The Euroregion Baltic Task Force on Future EU Cohesion Policy has met recently to discuss next steps with respect to the draft EU Cohesion Policy regulations.
During the meeting the Task Force decided to prepare recommendations for the ERB Executive Board including an analysis of the draft regulations with particular focus on the draft European Territorial Cooperation regulation, also when it comes to its possible impact on the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Concerning future lobbying activities, the Task Force agreed to improve the dialogue with national authorities on the future role of the ETC programmes, to clarify the possibility of including all ERB member regions in the next South Baltic Cross-border Co-operation Programme and lobby for replacing the current 150 km limit for maritime borders with a criteria based on functional geographies.
Based on these recommendations, the Task Force would prepare and propose concrete future actions that could be then included in the Euroregion Baltic Action Plan 2012-2013.
The ERB Task Force on Future EU Cohesion Policy was established in 2010 to enhance the role of ERB as a lobbying platform towards the European Union, by monitoring the preparation of future EU Cohesion Policy and actively promoting a greater role of particularly its Objective 3 – European Territorial Cooperation.