On 28th September in the COR premises a conference entitled “The contribution of EU Regional Policy to manage future challenges” took place where over 300 regional elected representatives from the European member states, including approximately 25 regional presidents and 9 regional vice-presidents signed a common declaration calling for EU Cohesion funding to be made available for all regions.
EA member and Shetland Islands Leader Cllr Gary Robinson, represented Scotland in this high profile discussion and agreed to formally support this initiative on behalf of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
Commenting on his participation on this event Cllr Robinson said: “COSLA and indeed most of Scotland local government campaigned for Scotland to remain part of the EU and we are working hard to ensure that Scottish Local Authorities and indeed Scotland as a whole retains as many links as possible with the EU. We have worked for many years with the regions present in today’s event and it seemed fitting to support them in this common effort”.
For local authorities post Brexit we still see merit though in pressing for Scottish councils to continue their existing and successful engagement in transnational projects such as provided by cooperation with other regions, known as INTERREG.
Similarly, in the EU research, transport, energy funds to be launched in 2021, there will be strands open to local authority participation, as well as certain European Investment Bank loans. For instance it makes total sense for the UK and the EU that investments are done together in issues such as the North Sea Supergrid or in Transport Links between Shetlands and other parts of the North Sea. “
Therefore, regardless the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, our bottom-line is we see clear benefits for Scottish local authorities continuing to have access to them –at the very least- in the same way that our Norwegian and Icelandic colleagues, who are not part of the EU, also do, he concluded.
The declaration was handed over to the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu, Ambassador Peter Javorcik on behalf of the Slovakian EU-Presidency, notably to the President of the Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula as well as the Chair of the Committee of Regional Development of the European Parliament Iskra Mihaylova MEP during a ceremony in the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria in Brussels.
