site.btaEU Cohesion Policy Crucial for Stability in Crisis, Says EU Regions Committee President

The European Union’s (EU) cohesion policy is not an investment tool, but the most important stabilizing one, and that is why it plays a crucial role in times of crisis, said Kata Tutto, President of the European Committee of the Regions, on Wednesday. She was speaking during the panel discussion “Sustainable development of regions. Carbon-neutral and smart cities: From vision to reality” on the third day of the five-day Green Transition Forum 5.0: Powering Up Competitiveness and Innovation in Central and Eastern European Region, held at the Sofia Event Center.

Tutto stressed the importance of enhancing the EU’s competitiveness to match that of the United States and China. The EU’s greatest strength is its diversity, she said, emphasizing the need for local communities to shape their own future.

According to her, the current moment is marked by multiple crises shaking the system, and more energy is needed to maintain order. There is a law in thermodynamics stating that all complex systems move from order to disorder, to chaos, unless enough energy is supplied to preserve order. This applies to everything we see, it’s valid for democracy, for marriages, for human institutions, and for the EU,” Tutto noted.

She added that this "energy" means more than just financial resources. We face many problems that need solving, and we need more funding at all levels. But energy also means the personal drive of every individual, every leader who carries responsibility, she said.

Tutto pointed to the need for stabilizing the system, taking decisions, and assuming responsibility. We need ambitious people who can make the necessary decisions and create a sense of stability, she concluded.