Cohesion policy is important in times of crisis, said the president of the European Committee of the Regions
SOFIA – The Chair of the European Committee of the Regions Kata Tyutyu stated during a forum in Sofia that the cohesion policy of the European Union is not an investment tool, but it is the most important stabilizing one. That is why it is so important in times of crisis, Tyutyu said during the panel “Sustainable Development of Regions. Carbon-Neutral and Smart Cities: From Vision to Reality” on the third day of the five-day forum “Green Transition Forum 5.0: Competitiveness and Innovations in Central and Eastern European Countries,” which is taking place at the “Sofia Event Center.” The organizers of this year’s fifth edition of the event are the “Green Transition Forum” and Dir.bg. BTA is a media partner.
The Chair of the European Committee of the Regions also emphasized the importance of the EU’s competitiveness, which should be comparable to that of the USA and China. The greatest strength of the EU is that it is diverse, she added and highlighted the need for local communities to have their future.
Kata Tyutyu said that currently too many crises are shaking the system and pointed out that more energy is needed to maintain order within it. There is a law in thermodynamics that all complex systems move from order to disorder, to chaos, if there is not enough energy in the system to maintain order, and this applies to everything we see – it is valid for democracy, for marriages and human institutions, and it is true for the EU, Tyutyu said.
According to her, energy is expressed in the need for more financial resources. We have so many problems to solve, and we need more resources at all levels, she added. However, according to her, this is not everything. Energy is not just money, but also the energy of every person, leader, who bears some responsibility, she added. Now is the time when we need all the energy, ambition, capacity for innovation, responsibility, and the ability to think from all leaders, from those in the smallest towns to the big cities, regions, at the national and European level, said the Chair of the European Committee of the Regions.
She added that there is a need to stabilize the system, make decisions, and take responsibility. We need people who are ambitious, who can make the necessary decisions and create a sense of stability, the Chair of the European Committee of the Regions further stated.
We need to focus more on people. In today’s world, when everyone is thinking about the next crisis, when wars are raging around us, we must realize that our world will be a better place to live for future generations, and for that, we need to invest more in education and skills if we want to build a strong Europe and ensure that all EU countries will develop in the future. This was stated earlier at the forum by the Vice President of the European Parliament Viktor Negrescu. He pointed out that it is important for the EC to allocate at least 20 percent in the new financial framework for education. (June 18)
