European Union News - Regional Policy

MEPs at International Trade Committee (INTA) approved the proposed EU-Morocco trade liberalisation agreement for farm and fishery products. The Committee voted against the original recommendation, drafted by José Bové, which called on Parliament to withhold its consent to the agreement. If approved by Parliament as a whole, the proposed agreement would immediately liberalise 45% of EU exports and also immediately liberalise 55% of EU imports from Morocco.

The agreement signed between the European Investment Bank and Bankinter promotes finance investment by small businesses and midcaps (companies with up to 3,000 employees) for €200 million agreement. This loan is being granted under the Bank’s policy of fostering the development of small and medium-sized companies.

EESC members backed the idea of creating a European Energy Community (EEC) in order to complete an EU-wide internal energy market and shaping a common, strategic approach to energy issues. In addition they underlined the importance of a joint approach to energy production, transmission and consumption.

The group of microcredit providers under Progress Microfinance counts now with the Instituto de Crédito y Finanzas Región de Murcia (ICREF) with a senior loan of up to €8 million which is expected generate, thanks to the leverage effect, up to €20 million in microloans. The European Progress Microfinance Fund does not provide direct financing to micro-entrepreneurs or individuals, but it works through microfinance providers, such as ICREF in Spain.

Štefan Füle, the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, is visiting Morocco on the 18th and 19th January in order to discuss issues such the progress of the reform process as well as a range of bilateral issues with the new Government headed by Abdelilah Benkirane.

Pancretan Cooperative Bank Ltd (PCB) is joining the group of microcredit providers under Progress Microfinance. PCB will therefore be able to offer up to €6 millions of microloans to Greek micro-entrepreneurs. This is the first time there is a Greek microcredit provider under Progress Microfinance.

The establishment of an Urban Development Fund will boost the investment to revitalise six major cities in Bulgaria. The funds will be provided by private investors and from the JESSICA funds, which is manage by the European Investment Bank. The investment will be addressed to urban projects located in the cities of Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora and Pleven in the next four years.

2012 is the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The 2012 year's theme is, according to the European Commission, an occasion to reflect on how Europeans are living longer and staying healthier than ever before, and to realise the opportunities that represents. 2011 was the European Year of Volunteering.

The European Commission Vice President Olli Rehn welcomed the announcement by the Spanish government on the significant package of budgetary policy measures approved. However he regretted the sizable fiscal slippage relative to the 2011 budgetary target. He therefore asked to Spain remaining committed to the fiscal consolidation path and staying determined to correct its excessive deficit by 2013.

The European Commission adopted a revised package of EU state aid rules for the assessment of public compensation for services of general economic interest (SGEI). With this new package, the Commission intends to clarify key state aid principles and introduces a diversified and proportionate approach with simpler rules for SGEIs. The responsible for the Committee of the Regions considers that on the overall approach to public services, much work remains to be done.