PiS MEP Jadwiga Wiśniewska submitted a question to the European Commission regarding the planned elimination of regional programs. In an internal presentation, the European Commission proposed changes to the mechanisms for financing from the EU budget. These changes will effectively dismantle the current regional policy and, in practice, lead to a non-treaty-based increase in the centralization of power in Brussels.
Jadwiga Wiśniewska stated that the changes are intended to affect the distribution of funds from the Cohesion Fund, and that the current mechanism—under which specific regions of member states received funds through more than 500 programs—is to be replaced by 27 national special programs. “The funds are to go not directly to the regions, but to central authorities,” the MEP said. She explained that the allocation of funds to member states will be based on criteria set by the Commission, which risks a situation where only those countries whose policies align with Brussels’ agenda will develop.
“This proposal leads to the dismantling of the existing, well-functioning system that guarantees the harmonious development of different parts of member states,” said the Polish politician. She also pointed out that centralizing the allocation of funds will increase the already extensive bureaucracy and reduce flexibility in responding to local needs.
“Under the guise of simplifying cohesion policy, the European Commission’s plans dismantle European regional policy and will lead to the centralization of power in Brussels and an extra-treaty expansion of the Commission’s powers,” commented the MEP.
In light of the above, the MEP asked the Commission, “whether it is considering a model for centralizing EU funds that would strip regions of their autonomy, which is inconsistent with Articles 174–178 of the TFEU concerning the establishment, implementation, and management of cohesion policy.”
“Is the European Commission aware that the centralization of EU authority over the regions is incompatible with the principle of subsidiarity, which is one of the pillars of the European Union?” the Polish politician also asked.
