Economic and social cohesion: consequences of enlargement, policy after 2006. 1st report

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the draft by Elisabeth SCHROEDTER (Greens/EFA, Germany) on economic and social cohesion. (Please refer to the document dated 09/10/02.) With regard to enlargement, Parliament insisted on the necessity of carefully adapting Community assistance within the cohesion policy framework to the specific needs and socio-economic realities (which have resulted from their unique history and economic and political transition) of future Member States. It reminded the candidate countries of the imperative need to further improve their administrative capacity and coordination mechanisms in their preparations for the management of the Structural Funds. Parliament asked the Commission to make the planning and implementation of the cohesion policy more effective and more flexible. It would be appropriate to gradually decentralise the management of funds provided that this is combined with an effective and rigorous monitoring of their use.�