To avoid confrontation of competitiveness and solidarity

In his speech at the meeting in Brussels, Mr Orbán said, “The debate should reinforce the EU as a whole, but it is taking place under extremely difficult and sensitive conditions. A premature debate on the seven-year budget could jeopardise the success of the measures required for defending the euro. However, the major criteria, such as the future of agricultural policy, cohesion policy and energy policy, should be determined before the budgetary debate.”

To decide on closing Croatia’s accession talks

”If competitiveness is confronted with solidarity, solidarity will lose. Therefore I think we have to avoid this kind of confrontation at all costs”, said Mr Orbán advocating the maintenance of the cohesion policy. According to the Prime Minister, ”cohesion policy has produced countless results despite criticisms.”

Mr Orbán declared that a clear decision has to be made in March, whether or not the Croatia’s accession negotiations can be closed during the Hungarian Presidency’s term. This is also necessary to identify the regions that should be considered in relation to the cohesion policy.

Successful cohesion policy in need of consensus

Mr Orbán’s proposals included that the cohesion policy should not only be beneficial for the poorest member states. “A successful cohesion policy needs a political consensus, which can be reached more easily if cohesion policy is available for each member state’s affected region”, the Prime Minister said. However, he added that the EU has to make the benefits of cohesion policy subject to financial and structural reforms. Mr Orbán pointed out that social subsidies should remain part of the cohesion fund.

On behalf of the Hungarian Presidency, the Prime Minister proposed that member states to adopt conclusions on cohesion policy, in line with his proposals at the General Affairs Council’s meeting on 21 February.

Cooperation between European, national, regional and local institutions

President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, stated that the cohesion policy reform has to be carried out “by focusing on the Europe 2020 goals and on results. But the Europe 2020 goals can never be fully achieved without a successful partnership between European, national, regional and local institutions”, said Mr Barroso.

The EU’s cohesion policy, will mobilise some 350 billion euros, during the next seven years. It will provide support for 455 national and regional programmes all around the EU. The Fifth Cohesion Forum in Brussels held on 31 January, gave member states and regions an opportunity to express their opinions on the way funds could be adjusted to the EU’s current policy objectives.

In summer 2011, the Commission is expected to submit its legislative proposals on the future cohesion policy, supplemented by the opinions of member states and regions, which they expressed at this meeting.