site.btaEP Liaison Office, Association of Municipalities Discuss Future of EU Cohesion Policy

The European Parliament (EP) Liaison Office in Bulgaria, in partnership with the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), opened a discussion on “The Future of Cohesion Policy: European Plans and Bulgarian Priorities”. The event took place on Friday at the House of Europe in Sofia and brought together representatives of key national and European institutions. 

The discussion was opened by Teodor Stoychev, head of the EP Liaison Office in Bulgaria, and moderated by Zinaida Zlatanova. Participating in the forum are MEP Tsvetelina Penkova (S&D), Ivan Ivanov, Director of the Central Coordination Unit Directorate at the Council of Ministers, Ivaylo Stoyanov, head of the Strategic Planning and Programming Department at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, Zornitsa Rusinova, Chair of the Economic and Social Council, and NAMBR Executive Director Silvia Georgieva. 

The main aim of the event was to discuss proposals for the future of cohesion policy within the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, to present the positions of the EP and Bulgarian institutions, and to hear the perspectives of the various stakeholders involved.

Penkova noted that under the current framework, the budget is allocated on the basis of expenditure, or so-called operational programmes. However, another model is currently being attempted - money in exchange for reforms. She said that the way in which funds were spent under national plans had proved ineffective, as only around 55% of the total package was invested in connection with the recovery and resilience mechanism. In her words, this is not satisfactory, and investment and funds are needed in the European economy and regions.

The new budget framework offers a total fund of around EUR 850 billion, combining the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy. Penkova added that this is a cause for concern for many countries, who are worried about how these important programmes for citizens will be funded. She added that another concern is that the European institutions will decide whether a country has implemented its reforms sufficiently to receive funding.

While this strategic document is beneficial in terms of policy synergy, Anton Gladnishki said that it is more likely to lead to a loss of identity for cohesion and the common agricultural policy, and it needs to be reconsidered. He commented that preserving some traditional cohesion policy mechanisms, together with imposing the money-for-reforms model, has a negative effect.