The Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029 have been drawn on Ursula von der Leyen’s consultations and on common ideas discussed with the European Parliament, and on the European Council’s Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029. The key question is how to ensure Europe’s future, its success, prosperity and peace? To make plans is easy. But putting them into practice is much more difficult. Especially when there is much to do, but resources and time are limited.
Lahti – Päijät-Häme region in southern Finland has prepared the following 10 + 1 to do list for the next European Commission and Parliament. Our proposals are concrete and in line with the Commission’s guidelines and the Council’s Strategic Agenda. They form the basis also for our own work on a regional and local level in building sustainable future for Finland and Europe. According to this agenda, to become more successful, competitive and resilient in the future, the EU must:
- Lead the climate and environmental policies and continue as a pioneer in climate action
- Support sustainable food systems
- Promote investment in sustainable and clean technologies
- Reduce administrative burden for SMEs
- Maintain excellence in research and development funding
- Foster educational and professional mobility across Europe
- Strengthen regional influence
- Advance urban and regional cohesion
- Promote planetary health
- Support sustainable tourism and
+ 1 Develop defense cooperation and comprehensive security.
So why this list? There is no other continent in the world that would take a leading role in climate actions, support sustainable and clean technologies or look after biodiversity with such determination as the EU. The same applies to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and investments in responsible food value chains. Who else would lead the way, if not the EU?
What about the role of SMEs and why do they need our special attention? As 99% of European businesses are SMEs, we need to support their growth and sustainability. By reducing their administrative burden and eliminating unnecessary regulation, SMEs can focus time and resources that support growth and drive sustainability initiatives.
Continuing the principle of excellence in research and development funding is the only way to guarantee the realization of ‘Horizon Europe’, a program which exists to accelerate know-how and innovative technologies.
Labor and skills shortages are on the rise in all EU Member States. That is why we should foster education and professional mobility across the EU, promote European joint degree programs and recognition of qualifications.
While overall regional policy is set at the EU level, day-to-day management of the EU’s structural and regional funds is a joint effort of the European Commission with national, regional, and local authorities. This is why it is important to enhance the role of cities and regions in EU decision-making. Moreover, as 70% of European policies and legislation have a direct impact on regional and local levels, we must strengthen the policies that are most visible in the territories, cohesion policy being certainly one of these.
Planetary health is our common global concern, so it is simply the EU’s obligation to lead efforts in balancing human-nature interactions, supporting sustainability initiatives and ecological resilience.
Finally, reinforcing the EU’s capabilities in comprehensive security and enhancing EU defense cooperation are self-evident. We need to protect EU citizens and defend EU’s values – promoting peace and security, and respecting fundamental rights and freedoms -, no matter what.
Niina Pautola-Mol
Regional Mayor
The Regional Council of Päijät-Häme
Finland
