On 2 March the COTER commission met to discuss the implementation of the EU 2020 Territorial Agenda, Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes and the European Fund for Strategic Investment ( EFSI).
The EA coordinator in the COTER commission and President of Valle D'Aosta Region, Augusto Rollandin, stated that "urban-rural balance and targeted policies to address depopulation are key for mountainous areas".
The EA members highlighted the importance of small - middle size cities in the implementation of territorial development policies as they ensure linkages between urban and rural areas and help diversify rural economies.
Members also pointed out that the EFSI risks exacerbating disparities between urban and rural areas if investments are concentrated only in metropolitan areas and that the CoR should be part of the Steering group of the Fund to ensure balanced development across all regions of Europe.
