The European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development plays a decisive role in determining the European Union’s cohesion policy. The goal is to make Europe fairer and thus strengthen cohesion. As shadow rapporteur for the Greens, I currently negotiate two legislative projects. The Common Provisions Regulation lays down the framework for the allocation of regional funding. The Just Transition Fund aims to facilitate a socially just exit from a fossil based economy. I am also committed to the development of rural areas.
Dear friends, The world is going down the drain. We are witnessing climate change-related disasters in so many places around the world. At the same time, we see conflicts and wars on the rise. And we are facing right-wing populism and antisemitism right on our doorstep. If I wanted to accept this, we could end…
At the start of the “Future.Land.Life” conference, guests from all over Germany were shown one of the most beautiful sides of the rural area. The sun shone on Thursday morning at Lake Kummerow and on the green areas around Malchin. “But this beautiful side is not enough in rural areas,” emphasized Niklas Nienaß at the…
I am convinced that we in Germany and Europe must do more for the people in rural regions. Local people know best, what is really needed in their region. Thus, politicians need to listen and enable citizens to engage themselves. For me, two things are therefore important: First, politics must get out of the cities…
Already 1.5 million people had to flee Ukraine after the Russian attack. Every day, several thousand arrive in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Germany. The European Union has reacted quickly and ensured an uncomplicated reception of the arriving people. The people on the ground show solidarity and willingness to help. Now the regions and municipalities…
I visited the German areas that were hit by the floods in July 2021. They are still rebuilding there. European money has not arrived so far. I propose a new European aid fund to better help in extreme weather events. The flood disaster last summer in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium shocked us all. A…
Due to new laws and falling costs, renewables are being expanded all over Europe. A study commissioned by the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament now examines the socio-economic effects of wind power & co in different regions. The result: the effects are generally positive. But only if they are accompanied by adequate policy measures. One…
The new EU funding period just started and supports with around 330bn Euro regional development within Europe. These funds can finance a variety of projects, from economic growth and competitiveness, environmental protection and sustainable development to social inclusion and job creation. This new funding period offers a special opportunity for bottom-up delivered projects: So-called Community-Led…
How can we tap the full potential of the variety of our Investment and Structural Funds and simultaneously trigger more citizens participation and locally driven funding? The “pioneer” in this respect is the LEADER-approach within the EAFRD, the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy. It allows funding which is decided from local action groups….
Last week, the Council, Commission and Parliament were able to reach agreement in the negotiations on REACT-EU. Through the program, EU cohesion policy will receive additional funding of 47.5 billion euros. The money is intended to help the most affected regions in Europe to tackle the consequences of the Corona pandemic more effectively. The money…
Council and Parliament made some progress at yesterday’s trilogue negotiations on the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) on the issue of co-financing rates. With the compromise reached, the Commission’s proposed reduction of the co-financing rates to 70 percent for less developed regions, 55 percent for transitional regions and 40 percent for more developed regions was softened. …
An article in the German newspaper Der Spiegel which heavily criticizes the EU for allocating a disproportionate amount of money to Hungary under the EU’s Corona response investment initiatives has created a public debate in Germany. With this paper I would like to briefly illuminate the background to you and correct the figures and information…
