The European Commission will allow European Union countries to accelerate utilize available Community funds available Provided that they are aligned with the new doctrine of the competitiveness of the block.

Policy change aims to mobilize EU regional resources that remain largely unused in order to build European “champions” in the industry sector And to alleviate the expanding gap with the US, as Politico notes.

“They are trying to succeed with a two turtles with a sbar,” said an EU official, who asked to maintain his anonymity about the measures.

Faced with an economic downturn and growing competition from the US, Commission President Ursula von der Laene is trying to make use of The Common Fund of 1.2 trillion. EU To enhance the autonomy of the Union, in an effort to make Europe again economically strong.

In order to implement its financial vision, the Commission’s president suggested to redirect billions of euros in regional funding From traditional projects, such as the construction of schools and bridges, in new areas of priority, such as technological innovation, military costs and housing.

Making a further concession, the EU Executive Body presented a solution that would allow countries to request the allocation of funds corresponding to each of the Recovery Fund for the Koronovi Pandemic and after the deadline of August 2026.

The committee calls countries divert these funds to strategic investment Through the European Investment Bank – the EU’s borrowing arm – which will allow them to exploit them after 2026.

Although these new priorities are a radical change for EU budget veterans, they may simply be an example that other more drastic changes will follow.

Ursula von der Laien has stated that she wants to use public funding for the next budget, the period 2028-2034, to push countries to proceed with significant economic reforms that will make them more competitive.

On Friday, the 27 EU commissioners will have the first debate on the structure of this new joint fund.

Release of funds

At present, the Commission has proposed the release of billions of euros in the current seven -year budget, expiring in 2027, and are trapped in the bureaucracy.

Currently, Only 30.6% of cohesion fund funds have been committedaccording to a committee representative, while spending is moving at a much lower level.

The Commission argues that these figures are not worrying because governments prioritize their funding to address the consequences of the pandemic, adding that cohesion costs usually tend to accelerate towards the end of the cycle.

“This delay is due to the pandemic, the delayed adoption of new legal texts and the need for member states to absorb the additional funds allocated under the NextGeneration EU,” the Commission spokesman explained.

But with the negotiations for the Budget of 2028-2034 To approach, EU cohesion commissioner Rafael Fito wants to boost costs in order to show the skeptical countries of northern Europe that regional funds are causing a result.

“We need to speed up the implementation of existing programs,” Fito said in a speech in Krakow on Thursday. Since he took over the portfolio in December, Fito has launched a tour of European capitals to negotiate the intermediate revisions of the countries’ cohesion plans, which must be submitted before 31 March.

“[Η ενδιάμεση αναθεώρηση] It is a golden opportunity to ensure that funding is absorbed faster, to take the next step for adapting policy to emerging needs“, Fito added.

However, the greatest flexibility offered by Brussels is accompanied by commitments. According to the recently published EU’s “Competitiveness Competitiveness Compass” – which contains several proposals to revitalize the bloc economy – countries are now able to channel more of the regional resources they receive in areas of strategic importance.

In practice, this change will allow large businesses to benefit as they can direct more cohesion resources to project financing, according to a European diplomat. This was not permitted on the basis of previous rules, which were intended to reinforce the small and medium -sized enterprises of Epirus.

Of course, this adjustment is a welcome relief for governments with limited financial capabilities, seeking to mobilize additional defense spending in the coming years.

Although cohesion resources cannot be used to buy defense equipment, they can be used to acquire auxiliary goods, such as drones and border infrastructure, which have both military and political use.

“Security is one of the most important challenges for Europe“Said Celine Gauer, who is leading the Commission’s Task Force for the Pandemic recovery fund.

“Is the cohesion policy part of the answer? I really think it is, ”he added.