The meeting on 5-6 February was organised by Belgium, which has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union since 1 January this year.

‘The world and the European Union are changing, and cohesion policy will inevitably change with them. Poland must play a leading role in shaping these changes,’

the Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, stressed.

The discussion raised the question of cohesion policy’s role as a guarantor of a fair transformation of the regions that takes account of their realities. There was also a discussion about the steps to be taken to continue strengthening the implementation of cohesion policy.

‘Ensuring the socio-economic and territorial cohesion of the European Union’s member states and regions is a key prerequisite for achieving the EU’s objectives of strengthening the single market, building resilience to external socio-economic and environmental shocks and security challenges. To achieve this, we need a renewed cohesion policy,’

Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said while presenting the Polish position during the debate. The Minister highlighted the need to take into account the territorially diverse potential of EU countries.

‘The renewed cohesion policy should remain present in all regions but it should first and foremost serve the least developed regions,’

she said.

The head of the MDFRP pointed out that the primary role of cohesion policy is also to promote social Europe.

‘Our aim is to provide equal opportunities and leave no one behind,’

she stressed.

Meetings of the Head of the MDFRP with representatives of EU Member States and institutions

The informal summit was an opportunity to have many bilateral talks. The Minister met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development of the Czech Republic Ivan Bartoš. Plans for the Polish Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2025, cohesion policy after 2027 and NRRP implementation were discussed.

The Head of the MDFRP met with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Investment and European Projects of Romania, Teodora Preoteasa. Among other things, the Ministers talked about Polish-Romanian cooperation within the framework of the EU Member States’ debate on cohesion policy after 2027.

During a meeting with the chairman of the COTER Commission at the Committee of the Regions, Emil Boc, the Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy discussed, e.g. the 10th European Summit of Cities and Regions that will take place in Mons on 18-19 March.

Minister K. Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also met with Estonian Minister of Finance Mart Vorklaev, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Finance Vaida Markevičiene, and Finnish Ministry of the Interior’s State Secretary Juha Martelius.