Committee of the Regions rapporteur Rhodri Glyn Thomas had a series of high level meetings in Brussels on 15 October as part of the evidence gathering phase for his own-initiative report on creating synergies between EU, national and sub-state budgets.

Rhodri discussed with EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski the proposals by the European Commission to strengthen the leverage and multiplier effect of EU funding on the ground, as part of a medium-to-long term investment strategy focusing on growth and jobs, expressing his support for the proposals prepared by the Commissioner, and outlining concerns that cuts to this would have a detrimental effect at the local and sub-state level. He underlined the importance of ensuring a strong involvement for the local and sub-state level in the EU political processes, including the new measures to strengthen economic governance, in particular highlighting their roles and responsibilities that sub-state authorities have in key areas for delivering Europe 2020, including education and economic regeneration.

Rhodri also chaired a stakeholder consultation with representatives from Brussels-based networks and organisations, which was extremely useful in confirming a number of the key issues to be covered in the draft report, together with further meetings with the DG Economic and Financial Affairs, the Europe 2020 unit in the Secretariat General and with OECD officials.

The report will be drafted by the end of October for consideration at the Ad hoc Budget Commission meeting on 28 November, and for adoption at the plenary session at end of January.

Should you have any ideas or suggestions for inclusion in the draft please contact Rhodri Glyn Thomas (rhodri.thomas@wales.gov.uk) and/or his expert Gregg Jones (Gregg.jones@wales.gov.uk) this week (ideally) to enable these to be taken into account.’