There is one point in the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy, presented by the European Commission on 3 March (see Europolitics3931), that is disappointing to the Committee of the Regions: the alleged lack of importance attached to the role of local and regional authorities in developing the programmes and initiatives that will bring this strategy to life. CoR President Mercedes Bresso finds that the strategy “does not go far enough” in this respect and “could be more effective if it allowed local and regional authorities to take an active part in developing national reform programmes and flagship initiatives, rather than being limited to implementing them”. “The strategy as presented stops at the national level,” regrets Bresso.

The final document nevertheless recognises the role of the subnational authorities to a much greater extent than the Commission’s earlier consultation document, which practically ignored the issue. This time, for example, the executive recommends a “partnership approach” that “should extend to local and regional authorities”. It notes that it is essential for all actors to work together to achieve the strategy and that “the contribution of stakeholders at national and regional level [...] also needs to be enhanced”.

PERMANENT DIALOGUE

It expressly states that partnership must be implemented to develop and implement national reform programmes. Although the document does not lay down any obligations, it recommends “establishing a permanent dialogue between various levels of government”.

Obviously it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to ensure that subnational authorities are closely involved in the strategy. The CoR, which had set up a monitoring environment for the Lisbon strategy and which published several reports on the regions’ involvement, will be sure to keep a close eye on the new strategy.

It will also make sure that the future EU Cohesion Policy does not boil down to an instrument at the service of the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy alone - one of the points made recently by the CoR’s rapporteur on Cohesion Policy, Michael Schneider (EPP, Germany) – and that the strategy’s financial aspect is not a drain on local and regional finances. “In line with the Lisbon Treaty, the committee will make sure that draft legislation to implement the strategy fully meets the conditions set out in the new protocol on subsidiarity,” warns Bresso. “For every new legislative proposal, we must ensure that the administrative or financial burden on the Union, national governments and regional and local authorities is as limited as possible and in keeping with the objective sought.”