On 31 May in Amsterdam the COTER commission held its external meeting. During the debate members expressed their views on the just adopted Pact of Amsterdam which takes up many of the CoR recommendations and suggested a way forward for its implementation.
The EA Group coordinator and President of Valle D'Aosta Region Augusto Rollandin welcomes the reference in the Urban Agenda on the importance of linkages between urban and rural areas. It is only with better cooperation and dialogue between urban and rural territories that we can ensure an integrated and balanced development. An urbanization process swallowing up neighbouring peri-urban and rural territories would only exacerbate problems and widen gaps, Mr Rollandin declared.
Members adopted the opinion on the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and held a first exchange of views on the future cohesion policy. Though the implementation of the 2014-2020 programming period has just started the CoR intends to thoroughly reflect on improvements that could be made in order to be better placed when it will be time for negotiations on the future cohesion policy. The CoR opinion will be adopted in 2017.
