On 25 September, the department and VLEVA organized an information session on European Cohesion Policy. The session followed the Flemish stakeholders consultation of September 2018 and provides feedback on the current work, just before the negotiations will start.
At the end of May 2018, the European Commission published its proposals for cohesion policy after 2020. The Government of Flanders held a written consultation of the stakeholders in order to determine the Flemish position. Today, both the Member States and the European Parliament have determined their positions and negotiations will start between the European institutions this fall.
The aim of the information session was to give Flemish civil society, local authorities and other stakeholders a brief overview of the current situation. The points of contact and difference between the European institutions on ESF +, ERDF and Interreg were highlighted and the recommendations of the European Commission for Belgian cohesion and investment policy were highlighted.
The newly elected MEP Cindy Franssen came to explain the position of the European Parliament. The representatives of ESF Flanders and VLAIO gave their views on cohesion policy and explained the further steps in their operational program. The Flemish attaché Cohesion policy, Lore Van den Putte, clarified the position of the European Council.
After the information session, the guests had the opportunity to network.
