Joint Position of the Azorean Government and the Government of Madeira regarding the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021 - 2027 presented by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel
Presidents of the Governments of the Azores and Madeira, following the presentation of the proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021 - 2027 by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, consider it is important and necessary to make public the following joint position:
- The proposal presented is a step backwards and clearly fails to reconcile positions and interests not only between Member States and European Institutions, but also in view of the European Union's own targets and goals for the future;
- The reduction of the overall amount for the Cohesion Policy is particularly dangerous in this context, leaving the Outermost Regions, Portugal and the European Union to face incomprehensible and unacceptable cuts that do not bring the European Union closer to its citizens in the areas where it is most essential;
- The reduction of the co-financing rate which, in the case of Outermost Regions could go from 85% to 75%, would require an increase of 66% in the regions' own effort (the effort rate of Outermost Regions would rise from 15% to 25% of the co-financed investments).
This is all the more incomprehensible because maintaining the co-financing rates at 85% does not burden or damage the overall budget of the Multiannual Financial Framework.
- The proposals to finance the Fair Transition Fund through a similar cut in the funding for rural development policies are also very dangerous, as they would imply that rural areas would be responsible for paying for the necessary EU energy transition, besides the fact that this Fund inexplicably excludes Outermost Regions;
- This proposal leaves regions and Europeans behind, because in weakening the Cohesion Policy, it weakens the core of the European project, which dangerously announces the end of solidarity between more developed regions and more fragile regions.
In a true Cohesion Policy that promotes Unity, the true financial return for all Member States is undoubtedly positive and cannot be limited to the simple balance between what each State can contribute and what it receives.
- We fully and unreservedly support all the efforts of the Portuguese Government and, in particular, of Prime Minister António Costa towards the defence of a Community budget with financing to meet the challenges of the present and the future, and without cuts in the Cohesion Policy and its financing. We also call for the mobilisation of all political forces, social partners and citizens towards the defence of a European Union of all and for all.