At the CoR summit European Recovery, Local Solutions EA group President Dr Uno Silberg welcomed the declaration agreed on the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy. Dr Silberg has consistently been critical of the lack of local and regional involvement in the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy and the declaration reinforces this point. The Athens declaration adopted with the full support of the European Alliance group focusses in on a clear seven point plan. He also complemented the Greek region of Attica for their vision in organising a summit where the local solutions are to the forefront.
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The Committee of the Regions' Seven-point plan for Europe 2020
1. Give the strategy a territorial dimension: Though the strategy has provided a framework for action, it ignores the strengths, weaknesses and development opportunities of European regions. There is a need to set territorially differentiated objectives and targets with updated and extended EU-wide regional data to measure progress locally.
2. National Reform Programmes in partnership: There is limited involvement of local and regional authorities in preparing National Reform Programmes: they are consulted but not viewed as partners in setting goals and targets.
3. Making multi-level governance the standard approach: Multi-level governance allows for coordination between different levels of government and is a precondition for the Europe 2020 Strategy to bring added value in terms of growth, jobs and cohesion. Territorial Pacts and multi-level arrangements involving public authorities at all levels can help deliver a renewed Europe 2020 Strategy.
4. Aligning the European Semester with genuine long-term investment: The European Semester - the annual exercise of coordination of fiscal and structural policies by the EU's member states - must be more aligned with Europe 2020 goals covered by the Flagship Initiatives, including related need for long-term investments.
5. Using the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiatives for enhanced policy coordination: The seven Flagship Initiatives should become a lever to enhance policy coordination at all levels in view of achieving the Europe 2020 targets.
6. Mobilising funding for long-term investment, ensuring better spending: the European Commission should publish a Green Paper on budget synergies between all levels of government which would allow them to "do more with less". The European Investment Bank should strengthen its support for local and regional authorities. Private funds should be mobilised through innovative financial instruments. The quality of public spending should improve, to make public investments more effective.
7. Strengthening administrative capacity for more effective implementation: Benchmarking, exchange of experiences and peer learning between regions and cities should be supported by the EU and Member States, also by using EU instruments such as the European Territorial Cooperation programmes. A Public Sector Innovation Platform, aiming at supporting and coordinating public sector innovation, should be established.
