The European Parliament approved four non-legislative resolutions on regional development which ask the EU's cohesion policy budget for 2014-2020 should at least equal the current one. The vote on the consolidated report on strategy for cohesion policy post-2013 has been postponed to the next plenary session in July.

In the previous debate to the vote, MEPs declared themselves in favour of a cohesion policy that is effective, ambitious and founded on solidarity. The Commissioner Johannes Hahn stressed to MEPs during a debate held with the Regional Development Committee, the Commission firm opposition to any attempt to transfer cohesion policy to national level or split it by sector, in particular via new thematic funds such as climate, energy or transport.

The Parliament also asked that the aid allocation process be simplified and accelerated, notably to benefit small and medium-sized firms, and that multi-funding and cross-funding be encouraged. Furthermore, improving synergies between the various funds should make it possible focus regional development policy more closely on results according to one of the reports adopted.

MEPs encourages the Commission to increase the share of structural funding allocated to objective 3 (territorial cohesion) from today's 2.5% to 7%, notably to improve transport infrastructure. Stepping up co-operation between towns and outlying suburbs and rural areas, so as to achieve more balanced regional development is one of the recommendation approved too.

The Commission is going to propose a legislative package consisting of a general regulation and specific rules for the social, cohesion and regional development funds and for territorial co-operation in September. At the end of 2011, this will be followed by a proposal for a common strategy framework for all EU funds.