On Friday, 17 May 2019, the European Institute of Romania (EIR) and “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised a conference titled “Europe of Convergence: growth, competitiveness, connectivity”. The event was included in the calendar of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and took place in the Senate Hall of “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University from Iași, between 11:30 – 16:30.
The main objective of the Conference was to discuss different issues related to the reform of the next EU Cohesion Policy (after 2021). How should the future EU Cohesion Policy address the new and growing challenges, from migration, terrorism, security to digitalization and cyber security? Which might be the main objectives of the future EUCP: cohesion or competitiveness, urban dimension or rural dimension, transition regions or lagging regions, support of jobs and innovation or infrastructure, etc.? Which must be the most efficient form of support for beneficiaries: grants, financial instruments or, likely, a mix of all of these? And which might be the relation between the EUCP and the European Fund for Strategic Investment (known as Juncker Plan/Instrument)?
Europe of Convergence_Background