Should the cohesion funds be used to finance European defense?
before American withdrawal And the Ukrainian war, European Union Defense financing request. Therefore, the European Commission suggests redirect part of the cohesion boxes towards this new priority. It was created in 1994, and this funds are especially served for financing Environmental projects And networks crossing Europe in member states with Reduced rental National Brota for the individual.
In the European Parliament, Al -Khader opposes this option exactly: “The money we have in the cohesion programs are intended for economic challenges and social division,” said “Euronws’ Rasmus Andresen, the German eurudipot from the Green Group/the Free European Alliance.” You have to invest protectionYes, but you have to do this with new money and not recycle part of the cohesion boxes as the committee suggests, “and Andreen says.
Represent the cohesion boxes 392,000 million eurosThat is, a third of the European budget for the period 2021-2027, but only 7 % and 30 % have been spent. The reason is that the authorities would have used other programs first, such as the plan NextGENERIONHEUUHis goal is to help economies Recover From Covid-1
Bulgarian Eurodipott Andrea Novakov The famous European Party (PPE) did not hesitate to rehabilitate the cohesion policy of “Sleeping Beauty” during a discussion in the European Parliament in early April.
Civil and military use
Nowadays, these money It cannot be used to finance armies Or buy military materials. However, it can be used to pay the price of products with civil and military uses, such as drones or machines.
“As a rule, the cohesion policy funds should not be used to enhance the defense, because it is the largest fund equal to the chances of developing European regions. However, there are exceptions, because we are talking about Double investmentsUse “It can also be funded through the cohesion policy,” says Jacek Protes, the European famous party (PPE).
In his opinion, the cohesion policy must be funded “enhancing bridges and access to roads in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus“,”Construction Under public buildings “or” preparation Hospitals For a possible armed conflict, “he adds:” They are investments that serve the local population in day to day, and this is at times of They are not They can also serve Defense“.
CE policy CE
While some national and local authorities are afraid that the cohesion funds will be central European Commission She wants to give more margins from maneuvering to countries that want to finance their defense.
“Many of Poor places From the European Union it is also that Russian threat It is bigger. Therefore, he does not necessarily harm European inequality, “he told” Euronews “Garvan Walshe, a co -researcher at the Wilfred Martins Center for European Studies, a research center for the European People’s Party (PPE).
“If it is invested in updating the industry in Bulgaria and Romania, it will continue to invest in the cohesion of the European Union,” he adds. However, there are still obstacles. For example, and 37 % of the funds Cheation must be used for projects related to climate.
“Here, no one talks about electrical tank Get rid ofthe Dwellinghe RaftAnd energy.
