A more competitive and secure Europe needs strong and connected regions, interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Friday.

Bolojan sent a video message within the debate on the future of Cohesion Policy, organised by the European People's Party (EPP) Budget Working Group in the European Parliament, with the participation of the group's vice-chairman, MEP Siegfried Muresan.

'The topic of the meeting is an important one for Europe and for each of our countries and regions: how we can make better use of European resources to reduce disparities between regions and increase Europe's competitiveness. I say this as a former mayor of Oradea for 12 years and president of the Bihor County Council for four years. During this period, I saw how important it is for different levels of administration to work together. At local level, you can best see people's problems and the needs of the community, you can coordinate projects that go beyond the boundaries of a single locality, while at national level, the national framework must be ensured, investments must be prioritised and resources must be mobilised. That is why I believe that an effective cohesion policy must capitalise on all these perspectives. The partnership between the European, national, regional and local levels must mean that each level does its part and that we work in the same direction,' he said.

In his view, the experience of Oradea is relevant.

'Over the past few years, European funds have made a decisive contribution to the transformation of the city and the metropolitan area. Some of these projects would have been much harder to carry out using only local or national resources. Experience shows us that European funds deliver results when there is a development vision, well-designed projects, decisions taken in a timely manner and the capacity to see them through to completion,' Bolojan said.

He underscored that, for the citizens, the success of a European project is not the absorption rate, but a road that is built, better public transport, a modern hospital, a better school, a better-connected industrial area or a company that can invest and create jobs.

He conveyed that Europe's priorities today - greater competitiveness, security, secure and affordable energy, infrastructure, skills and productive investment - should not be set against cohesion policy.

'On the contrary, they must support each other, because a more competitive and secure Europe needs strong and connected regions. For Romania, this link is very important. A better-connected region, with access to energy and a well-trained workforce, can attract investment and increase the competitiveness of the entire economy. Connecting regions through modern infrastructure can reduce costs for companies, facilitate access to markets and attract private investment, which means jobs and higher incomes for people. That is why the modernisation of cohesion policy must clearly retain the objective of reducing economic, social and territorial disparities, while at the same time being better connected to Europe's new priorities,' Bolojan added.

In the same context, he mentioned the importance of reform in public administration.

The interim prime minister also underscored that future regional and national plans must involve regions from the outset in setting priorities and preparing investments, given that local administrations know the needs of their communities.

'And this role must also come with clear responsibilities and accountability for the results,' Bolojan mentioned.

Participants in the event also include EPP's MEPs Daniel Buda and Iuliu Winkler, representatives of the European Committee of the Regions, local elected officials and representatives of Romanian authorities, Bucharest Mayor Ciprian Ciucu, Sibiu County Council President Daniela Cimpean, head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery Mihai Jurca and representatives of civil society. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Florea; EN - writing by: Rodica State)

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