The network participates in the fourth meeting of experts in Structural Funds with the General Direction of Urban and Regional Policy

Last 26 april, MedCities’ Secretariat participated in the first annual meeting of the Structured Dialogue of the European Commission with the group of experts in European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). This event represented the fourth meeting since the group was created in 2014.

The meeting, held twice a year, is aimed at establish an open, frank and informal dialogue with the partners working in the field of ESIF.

The discussions focused mainly in the European Urban Agenda that is being implemented through four pilot projects. TThese experiences deal with subjects of particular relevance in urban areas such as poverty, migrants and refugees, housing, and air quality. The firsts results of these working groups are foreseen for the end of may.  They must include the adoption of the Amsterdam Agreement and the elaboration of action plans developed jointly by the cities, the Member States and European Institutions which participate.

Experts have stated that concerning the work with civil society in the implementation of the Urban Agenda, there should be a particular emphasis in  aspects such as transparency, partnerships, and diversification and increase of the stakeholders involved. For that reason the Dutch Presidency of the EU has created a website  to make information available to all stakeholders who wish to contribute.

The Commission and the experts that participated in the meeting also disussed on the contribution of the Structural Funds to the political priorities of the EU such as the strategy Europa 2020. They also reflect on the benefits and challenges of the principle of association for the elaboration and implementation of the Cohesion Policy Programs.

Structured Dialogue about the ESIF is a mechanism to approach these funds to the territory and help the European Commission to develop this policy. The group consists of associations and networks representing  regional, local and urban publicentities,such as MedCities, as well as by economic and social stakeholders, and civil society organisations.

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