The president of the European Committee dedicated to the Outer Regions, Vasco Cordeiro, highlighted the “important role” played by regions and cities in building the European Union.
Vasco Cordeiro was speaking on the occasion of Europe Day, which is celebrated today. This day also marks one month until the European Parliament elections.
“As we celebrate Europe Day, this is an opportunity to ask ourselves what kind of Europe we want,” he said.
Vasco Cordeiro states, “in recent years, we have faced enormous challenges, such as the climate crisis and natural disasters, the rising cost of living and growing inequalities, a pandemic and the consequences of instability and wars in our neighborhood.”
The Committee of the Regions president views two fundamental factors as necessary to resolve these issues.
“Firstly, we need European responses. No country, no region, no city can, on its own, respond to the global challenges we face. Europe-wide solutions are needed and decades of integration show that this is the right way forward. Secondly, we need to empower local and regional authorities with means and other support schemes because, regardless of the magnitude of the changes we face, they always start in the municipalities and regions, the places closest to the reality felt by our citizens,” he added.


Vasco Cordeiro said, “Although this seems like an easy formula, which can even be taken for granted, its realization still requires vision and good policies to work to the full.”
He said, “one example of these policies, which has proved successful, is the Cohesion Policy.”
“Cohesion Policy, as the European Union’s long-term investment policy, has contributed to millions of projects that improve the quality of our infrastructure and our environment, strengthen innovation and public services, and also invest in people,” he said.
For Vasco Cordeiro, Cohesion Policy “must be reformed, but it is essential to maintain some of the core elements, such as the principle of partnership or multi-level governance, so that it continues to produce results and promote development, based on two success factors: the ability of local and regional authorities to produce results on the ground and the existence of a common European framework.”
Regarding the European Parliament elections, Vasco Cordeiro said, “We must mobilize to ensure that the candidates for the European Parliament commit to defending the only policy that makes the European Union visible everywhere and to everyone: Cohesion Policy.”
“Let’s use our vote, let’s use our rights. Let’s shape the future of Europe, with all regions and cities at its core,” he concluded.

in Diário Insular, José Lourenço-director

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