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The report from the High-Level Group of Specialists on the Future of Cohesion Policy was just released. Titled "Forging a Sustainable Future Together: Cohesion for a Competitive and Inclusive Europe," this report is a crucial step towards shaping the future of our Union. Cohesion Policy stands as the cornerstone investment policy of the European Union, driving economic, social, and territorial development across our diverse regions. Since its inception over three decades ago, it has been instrumental in lifting millions of Europeans out of poverty and fostering progress on both local and global scales. In light of the evolving challenges facing our continent, it's imperative that Cohesion Policy evolves as well. This report outlines key strategies to address contemporary structural challenges and ensure the well-being of all Europeans. I invite you to delve into the insights provided by this report, which not only highlight the achievements of Cohesion Policy thus far but also chart a course for a more competitive, inclusive, and sustainable Europe. As in the words of Elisa Ferreira, the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, "cohesion is the glue that binds Europeans together. It creates a unified, inclusive Europe where every citizen can feel a sense of belonging and engagement with its objectives." Beautifully said. Read the full report in the link in the comments below. 👇🏼 #CohesionPolicy #EU #FutureofEurope #Sustainability #Inclusivity

🇨🇭 engages in the private sector for #sustainable development. A dynamic private sector is a 🗝️key driver for reducing global 🌍 poverty. In developing countries, the private sector generates nine out of ten jobs. It contributes to development through incomes, capacity building and taxes that can be invested in public services.   Switzerland's 🇨🇭 International Cooperation Strategy 2021-2024 includes Private Sector Engagement (#PSE) among its priorities. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation views PSE as a way to foster innovation and achieve greater impact by joining forces with private sector partners.   The three core attributes of #PSE are 👇 ⚫ All partners jointly conceive and develop the interventions (co-initiating) ⚫ All partners are strategically involved in the implementation (co-steering) ⚫ All partners contribute to the financing of the intervention (co-funding)   In a true partnership, costs, risks and benefits are distributed equitably. More information 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewRqePn6 Photo credit: Shamba Pride

A dynamic private sector is a key driver for reducing global poverty. In developing countries, the private sector generates nine out of ten jobs. It contributes to development through incomes earned by employees, capacity building and taxes paid which can be used for the provision of public services. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation commissioned an external evaluation of its Private Sector Engagement (PSE) portfolio 2015 - 2021. Take a look at what it found and what it implies for our future PSE strategy.

🌐 #LocalDataTuesday Did you know 1/3 of the EU Budget goes to #CohesionPolicy, supporting vital investments in EU countries? We advocate for a policy empowering Local and Regional Governments, emphasising core principles, strengthened partnerships, and lessons learned. Let's build a simpler, more effective framework for a resilient and inclusive Europe together. 🇪🇺 🌍 Most importantly, during multiple crises, European citizens have witnessed that Local and Regional Governments are always at the forefront of the social, economic, and territorial response. They lead in implementing emergency solutions during crises like the COVID pandemic, tackling the climate emergency, welcoming refugees, and providing solutions to citizens. Cohesion Policy is a key driver for local and regional public investment, benefiting not only urban areas but also rural and remote territories facing market failure. It ensures access to essential public services and equal opportunities, fostering a balanced and sustainable Europe. 📈 Explore our position paper on the future of Cohesion Policy: https://lnkd.in/eCtUuges #EU #LocalGovernance #InclusiveEurope #CohesionPolicy #EuropeanUnion #RegionalDevelopment #LocalGovernment #SustainableEurope #Resilience #Inclusion

The opening plenary of the #4thTechnicalSymposium of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Social and Solidarity Economy (UNTFSSE) has brought key messages from representatives of the countries that took the lead towards the adoption of the United Nations #Resolution on “Promoting the #socialSolidarityEconomy for #sustainableDevelopment”. This included senior representatives from Senegal, Spain and Chile, who emphasized the political importance of #SSE within their own government priorities to address multiple social, economic and ecological challenges in their countries. They stressed the importance of the #UNTFSSE in making this resolution possible and the key role it will play in rolling out strategies to promote implementation of the resolution around the world, which will be the focus of this two-day discussion.   Representatives of the Province of Quebec and the City of Montreal who are hosting this meeting also stressed the importance of SSE in promoting just and equitable socio-economic development in their territories as part of a “plural economy”, highlighting notably action programmes following adoption of Quebec Law on the Social Economy. Emphasis was also placed on the key role of local authorities and civil society as vital forces to drive the development of SSE and supportive policies at different territorial levels. The meeting is also attended by senior representatives of the French government that played an essential supportive role in the adoption of the resolution.

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.

Very interesting report on economic, social and territorial cohesion from the European Commission. Check it out below ⏬

🌍 Exciting news! The 9th Cohesion Report is out, with input from my team. The report shows that Cohesion Policy is fulfilling its mission to narrow economic, social, and territorial disparities across the EU.   🔍 It includes a critical chapter on the opportunities and challenges of the green transition. Our work provided essential insights on energy poverty, coal regions in transition and the best places to locate renewable energy projects.   📊 We are proud that our data plays a crucial role in shaping policies that address the unique challenges and disparities faced by EU regions.   🔗 You can read the full 9th Cohesion Report here: https://lnkd.in/ethyHJSv   💼 A special thanks to Giorgos Koukoufikis, Jose Antonio Moya Rivera, Andreas Uihlein and Erhan Özdemir, PhD for their expert analysis.   #CohesionPolicy #GreenTransition #EnergyPoverty #ClimateNeutrality #Sustainability #Innovation #Collaboration

A brief glimpse of one of my interventions during the panel debate at the 9th Cohesion Forum in 📍 Brussels. 🌍 Looking to the future, we need to address three key challenges for the Cohesion Policy to achieve balanced growth: 1. Investing effectively in underdeveloped regions with poor socio-economic conditions and limited access to basic services and resources. 2. Closing the gap in economic, technological and physical connectivity between Europe's prosperous and slow-growth regions is crucial, as resources tend to be concentrated in more prosperous areas. 3. In Central and Eastern Europe, overcoming barriers to innovation and the diffusion of opportunities - characterised by gaps in infrastructure, public services and governance - is essential. 🌐 #EconomicDevelopment #EUregions #Innovation #CohesionPolicy

NEW REPORT 📣   In the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, the EU’s unprecedented NextGenerationEU recovery plan was presented as the means to support Europe’s short term economic growth and accelerate its just, green and digital transformation.   However, as the EU prepares for the recovery plan’s mid-term review, a new report from Eurocities and CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) says the plan and its funding instrument, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), are failing to meet the long-term investment needs of Europe’s cities.    The 'Urban Recovery Watch' report says the RRF is not solid enough to drive the urban actions required to reverse the effects of austerity.   The report finds that Member States’ plans have been centralised at national level, with a lack of consideration for the needs of local governments. Despite EU attempts to present the recovery plan as an alternative to Cohesion funds, the report says it will not solve public investment issues at the local level. Read our article and recommendations to improve the recovery plan 👉 https://lnkd.in/epvPFcfW #NextGenerationEU European Commission Ricardo Martinez Arias Agustí Fernández de Losada Passols Marjorie Jouen Mariona Tomàs Karsten Zimmermann Taina Tukiainen