The Council participants also adopted conclusions on the role of cohesion policy in meeting demographic challenges in the Union.

In addition, the Council discussed a declaration adopted by Poland and the Baltic States, i.e. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, calling for special support for the frontline regions of the European Union in the EU's future financial perspective.

Poland is in favour of recognising the leading role of regions in enhancing the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union. It supports the position that this should be reflected in the next EU financial perspective.

An improvement of the effectiveness of EU funds should be achieved by preserving and reinforcing the fundamental principles of cohesion policy within the framework of the new European Union financial perspective, e.g. shared management, a territorial approach, multi-level governance and partnership, as well as the principle of subsidiarity,

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy, said during the debate.

The Minister emphasised the role of the regions in implementing cohesion policy. 

As the largest beneficiary of cohesion policy, Poland increases the involvement and responsibility of regions and local authorities in the implementation of cohesion policy with each successive perspective. This proves that this system works and should be continued in the future,

the minister said.

The role of Cohesion Policy in Addressing Demographic Challenges

The General Affairs Council adopted conclusions stating that demographic challenges are key in shaping the future of EU regions and citizens, significantly affecting economic, social and territorial cohesion, as well as the resilience and competitiveness of the EU. Failure to address demographic issues can lead to a widening of regional inequalities.

Among other things, the document states that cohesion policy has been one of the EU's most important instruments in addressing the demographic challenge through the support offered by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

The conclusions also indicate that future cohesion policy should continue to play a key role in addressing demographic challenges.

Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia in Favour of Building Strong Regions Bordering Russia and Belarus 
During the meeting, the Lithuanian delegation presented information on the declaration adopted jointly with Poland, Latvia and Estonia on building strong and resilient regions bordering the aggressor states of Russia and Belarus. The document points out that Poland and the Baltic States are the most affected by the negative consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and are in fact the EU's first line of defence against external threats. This is why the declaration calls for the frontline regions to receive special support in the EU's future financial perspective.

Strong Regions in Future Cohesion Policy

The meeting in Brussels was also an opportunity for the German delegation to provide information on the adoption of a position on the territorial design and implementation of Structural Funds programmes. It is a response to emerging media reports on the European Commission's intentions to reduce the importance of the regions in future cohesion policy. 

The position paper emphasises that cohesion policy is and should continue to be a territorial development policy in the future. It should be based on a place-based approach, shared management and the principle of partnership. Placing the regions at the centre of the programme design and implementation process is considered crucial. At this point, Germany's initiative is supported by Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Ireland. 

Meeting with DG Regio and DG Recover

During her visit to Brussels, Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz held meetings with Director General of DG Recover at the EC Celine Gauer and Director General of DG Regio at the EC Themis Christophidou. 
The conversation with Celine Gauer focused on the implementation of the NRP, including the submission of further payment claims by Poland. When speaking to journalists, the minister admitted that two revisions of the NRP are planned for next year. 

During the meeting with Themis Christophidu, the Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy raised issues such as changes to European Funds programmes so that cohesion policy funds could be redirected to help flood victims. This includes the need to take into account changes to the regulations in the midterm review of the programmes.

The Minister also met with Catherine Vautrin, Minister for Territorial Partnership and Decentralisation of France. The discussion focused on Poland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union that starts on 1 January 2025, and the EU's future cohesion policy, including the strengthening of its key strengths such as shared management of cohesion funds in line with the principle of subsidiarity.