#EUFridays by JEF Hungary #14
Fanni Anna Spitzmüller
Feb-18-2022
The adoption of the Cseh-Report as the new way for cities to gain access to EU funds
On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted the report prepared by Katalin Cseh, which would – among other things – allow cities to apply for EU funds independently, without the approval of the states - announced the Municipality of Budapest and Momentum's joint press release.
"The now adopted Cseh-Report includes what the capital has been lobbying for in Brussels for years, so that cities can apply directly for EU funds and that parts of the post-Corona recovery funds can go directly to the cities.”– wrote Katalin Cseh and Gergely Karácsony, mayor of the city of Budapest in a joint statement.
The report proposes corresponding legislative changes to the European Commission and the Council, so the cities are not yet able to apply for EU funds directly, unless the Council and the Commission agrees first. It is a question of whether they will or not, as the Hungarian and Polish governments are represented in the Council, and neither has an interest in their opposition-led cities having direct access to EU funds.
It is also a problem that the Commission does not currently have an office where it could receive such urban applications, as applications are currently handled through the infrastructure of the Member States, and this can only change if the Commission receives funding from the Parliament and the Council to set up an office capable of receiving and assessing these applications.
The report also deals with education, digitalization and climate change, gender equality and domestic violence. According to Karácsony, the adoption of the Cseh-Report could be a very important help for cities, municipalities and businesses to recover from Covid19.
“I am immensely proud that the report, on which my colleagues and I have worked so hard, was adopted by a huge majority in the European Parliament. I have said many times that cities should be able to access EU funds directly, because they are much more aware of people's real needs and what they really need.” – wrote Cseh in an Instagram post.
EU and African leaders meet in Brussels to reset relations
The European Union and the African Union are coming together in Brussels for a two-day summit to reset relations after two turbulent years that saw accusations of "vaccine apartheid" and "discriminatory" travel bans.
The joint summit is seen as an opportunity to open a new chapter and address common challenges, such as climate change, the energy transition, sustainable development and the economic recovery.
High on the agenda will be the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine inequality. The EU has so far donated over 145 million vaccine doses to the African countries and wants to reach 450 million by the summer, according to the European Commission. The current gap is staggering: over 12% of the African population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as opposed to 81% of the EU population.
As a way to prove their willingness to reset and improve relations, EU officials are putting the final touches to a €150 billion investment package that leaders will unveil during the summit.
The funds will be mobilized over the next years and will be channeled into three main areas: infrastructure (energy, digital and transport), education and health.
The package is part of the Global Gateway, an ambitious €300 billion program launched by Brussels late last year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described Global Gateway as a "true alternative" with a dedicated focus on environmental standards, transparency and good governance that will put participant countries on an equal footing, rather than in a subservient arrangement.
EU officials hope the packed agenda will stimulate "lively debates" and result in a "tangible legacy" that will shape EU-Africa relations for the remaining years of the decade. Before the summit comes to an end of Friday afternoon, leaders are expected to present a "joint vision for 2030".
"Our two Unions share the same vision: to create a common area of stability and prosperity. At this summit we shall have to work out practical ways of achieving that goal," said von der Leyen in a recent visit to Senegal.