Today in Strasbourg, during the European Parliament’s plenary session, a debate took place on the European Citizens’ Initiative titled “Cohesion Policy in the Region: Promoting Equality and Preserving Regional Culture.” PiS MEP Bogdan Rzońca spoke during the discussion.
“We were pleased to learn that over 1.2 million Europeans supported the European Citizens’ Initiative,” said the PiS MEP, noting that this initiative stems from a deep conviction that the European Union is at its strongest when it is diverse—not only in terms of nations and languages, but also in terms of regions, their cultures, and their socio-economic characteristics. “The principle of territorial cohesion is enshrined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; however, disparities between regions remain significant,” noted the PiS politician. He said that economic inequalities, population decline, depopulation, limited access to public services, and the erosion of local cultures threaten the cohesion and unity of the common European project. He stated that this initiative calls on the Commission to take concrete steps to ensure that regional policy effectively promotes equality among regions, particularly those facing structural difficulties, by guaranteeing, above all, equitable access to EU funds for all regions, especially those facing specific cultural, geographic, or economic challenges, while recognizing and protecting regional cultural identities and traditions as living elements of the cultural and social heritage of the European fabric. He pointed out that it also promotes sustainable development and regional self-sufficiency by supporting local economies and revitalizing populations, while strengthening regional governance and citizen participation in shaping financial development projects and strategies within the European Union. Rzońca argued that this initiative is not intended to divide or separate. “On the contrary, it is about strengthening unity through fairness, about enabling all parts of Europe to develop and make a meaningful contribution to our common future,” he emphasized. As the PiS politician added, this initiative calls for equality, not uniformity, in EU policy, and cohesion policy should reflect the colorful mosaic of the European Union.
