EU Affairs minister emphasises importance of cohesion policy and regional governance in enhancing European competitiveness

European competitiveness is bound tightly with cohesion policy and the operations of regional governments, János Bóka, the EU affairs minister, told journalists on Tuesday at the opening of a meeting of the European Committee of the Regions held as part of Hungary’s EU presidency.

The forum gives government and local council representatives a chance to exchange ideas and share knowledge on best practices while aiding EU legislative bodies with advice on areas such as health, education, employment, social care and energy policy, Bóka noted.

Among Hungarian EU presidency priorities is a discussion of the challenges that cohesion policy faces in the coming seven-year budget period as well as the role regional and local councils play in shaping it, he said.

Regarding competitiveness, he said the subject was central to local and regional governments in terms of jobs, livelihoods, employment or social care, and feedback from the local councils was important from the point of view of Hungary’s EU presidency.

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