​During the 20th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the European Committee of the Regions together with the leading European associations of cities and regions renewed the Cohesion Alliance, by signing a joint declaration in the presence of the EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, and the Chair of the European Parliament's committee for regional development, Younous Omarjee.

They renewed their commitment to reinforce Cohesion Policy and increase the territorial impact of all EU investments in order to make them fit for Europe's long-term challenges.

Speaking on behalf of the EA Group, Nanette Maupertuis, President of the Corsican Assembly highlighted the past achievement of the cohesion alliance and the need to continue working together to maintain a strong cohesion policy aimed at reducing territorial disparities, while focusing on few priorities.

Ms Maupertuis, who is also EA Group Vice President said: Cohesion policy cannot do everything alone. All other EU policies should be coordinated to ensure that territorial gaps do not widen, we need more decentralisation with tailored investments according to local needs and more simplification, thus reducing administrative burden for local and regional authorities that cause delay in cohesion policy implementation.