Comisarul European pe Politici Regionale: si orasele ar trebui sa obtina fonduri europene, nu doar zonele rurale

Intr-un articol aparut in EUOBSERVER, Comisarul European pentru Politici Regionale - Johannes Hann afirma ca un procent al fondurilor structurale ale Uniunii Europene ar trebui sa fie alocate si pentru politicile urbane, avand in vedere ca 70% din populatia UE traieste in orase iar bugetul Uniunii este construit din PIB-ul provenit de la acestia.

Mai jos articolul in limba engleza.


EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – A certain percentage of the EU's structural funds should be earmarked for urban policies, as cities host 70 percent of the bloc's population and account for most of its GDP, according to regional policy commissioner Johannes Hahn.

"We should have a certain percentage of the money dedicated to urban affairs," Mr Hahn told MEPs on Tuesday (14 September) during a hearing aimed at raising the profile of cities in the allocation of funding for poorer regions.

With a budget of €347 billion in 2007-2013, the EU's regional pot is currently funding a whole range of projects aimed at helping poorer regions to catch up with the wealthier ones. Projects range from highways and clean water plants to training for bureaucrats and grants for small and medium enterprises.

According to Eurocities, a network of 140 European cities from 30 countries, only ten percent of the current funding is specially devoted to urban issues.

Mr Hahn, while pointing out that it is hard to come up with a precise estimate since some of the regional projects also have urban components, admitted there was room for improvement.

restul articolului pe euobserver.com