08-02-08

In its contribution to the public consultation on the future of Cohesion Policy, CECODHAS insists that the orientation of the Cohesion Policy does not take enough into account the challenge of sustainable and integrated urban development. 

The Cohesion Policy for the period 2007-2013 has been mainly devoted to the promotion of innovation and competitiveness, relegated environnemental sustainability and social inclusion issues to second place.

Furthermore, CECODHAS calls for:
-    an improved analysis of the specific needs of the different territories, especially in terms of supply of decent and affordable housing;
-    a greater flexibility in the reviewing of the priorities in the Operational Programmes over the whole period;
-    a stronger partnership in both the preparation and implementation of the funds with stakeholders such as cities, NGOs and housing providers.

Read CECODHAS contribution (in FR only) here

In addition to this consultation which is specifically dedicated to the Cohesion Policy, the Commission will adopt a Green Paper on territorial cohesion in September 2008 and will open a large public consultation at the same time. It will provide an updated analysis on the disparities of the European territory and will start the debate on how to take better account of the territorial dimension within EU policies and programmes. CECODHAS will actively take part to this debate.