The President of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, intervened as representative of 137 regions of the Member States of the European Union, in the initiative ‘EUregions4cohesionframed in regional development to achieve an optimal cohesion policy by 2027. In his speech, the Aragonese focused on the problem of depopulation and the raising of European funds.
He did this during the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions, participating in the dialogue “Debate on a renewed cohesion policy after 2027 that leaves no one behind”, where he defended that the policies of the European Union must respect “the particularity of each region. While criticizing the centralist approach because it would be “a mistake”.
Azcón gave the example of Aragon, highlighting how Cohesion Fundsuch as the FEDER, the FEADER, the ESF+ or Interreg, have been “essential for Aragon to be a more cohesive, innovative region and prepared for the future”. At the same time, he warned that the inadequacy of these factors “would prevent our Community from having equitable access to funds compared to the regions of Central Europe, with a slightly lower GDP per capita, but without depopulation problems” .
The president of Aragon formulated three “essential” requests for the Cohesion policy after 2027: “Fair coverage for all regions, an adequate budget to face current and future challenges and strengthen dialogue between the European Commission and the regions.”
Azcón and cohesion policy in the European Union
He defended that cohesion policy must “respect a territorial approach based on the particularity of each region”, defending that regional governments know “best specific needs» and a centralist framing would be a “mistake”.
He called for an appropriate budget, which would be increased in other strategic areas for the European Union, “but not to the detriment of the reason for being of the European Union, cohesion”. Furthermore, he welcomed the proposal to appoint a vice-president of cohesion and reforms so that, in this way, the reinforced dialogue between the Commission and the European regions is strengthened.
According to Azcón, European regions are facing “big challenges“, among which he identified “the fight against climate change, digitalization, demographic transition or citizen security”. And, at this stage, cohesion policies should be adapted to the “demographic reality” of each region .
Azcon to Brussels
The Aragonese president went to Brussels on Tuesday, where his schedule is busy. This Wednesday, he held a meeting with the vice-president of the Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostaswhom he invited to visit Aragon, to get to know the community “on the ground”.
Azcón and Tzitzikostas addressed crucial issues such as the reopening of the Canfranc line, the potential benefit for Aragon and Spain as a whole of promoting the passage of the central Pyrenees, the cutting of the French side of the Somport pass and the situation of automotive industry in Europe and Spain.
Regarding the Crossing the Pyrenees This was a project that was included in the European infrastructure plan, but was later withdrawn. However, Azcón insisted that “it is fundamental for Europe, that is why they must be on the European agenda again.”
Regarding the opening of Canfranc, Azcón defended himself the rail connection between Canfranc and Pau. It should be remembered that last July, a joint declaration was signed between Aragon and Nueva Aquitania to
to demand the reopening of the Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau line, which they aspire to name Francisco de Goya, in honor of the artist who lived respectively in the two capitals of Aragon and New Aquitaine, Zaragoza and Bordeaux.
