20
Apr
2023
Watch
Cohesion dimension of EU state aid and de minimis rules (debate)
Madam President, the fact that the Commission, as a result of the unfavourable economic developments caused by the confluence of many crises, will mention the Russian aggression in Ukraine, has decided to allow the Member States to support their economies, is perfectly understandable and, of course, I also welcome this step. I also welcome, of course, the support for the green transition, which are actually connected vessels. Both the Temporary Crisis Transition Framework and the amendment of the General Block Exemption Regulation will undoubtedly help speed up investment and financing, in addition to clean energy production, which is one of the important objectives of European policies to which I also subscribe. However, this does not in any way mean that we can forget about cohesion policy and its principles, which are set out in European primary law. I am therefore asking: What are the guarantees that cohesion policy will not become the proverbial Cinderella? How do these initiatives reflect Articles 174 and 175 of the Treaty, which specifically govern the principles of cohesion? Also how provisions on outermost regions, transition regions and the most disadvantaged regions can be included in the Regulation de minimis? I have doubts about this procedure. We are undoubtedly living in a difficult time, which compels us to compromise, but I would not like the basic principles of cohesion policy to be sacrificed in favour of economic and environmental considerations.