Two days prior to EU Council’s emergency summit on the bloc’s long-term budget, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the recently elected President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) stressed the need to safeguard European funds that improve EU citizens’ lives or risk “failing” and giving ground to populism.
Tzitzikostas, who assumed his post as CoR President on 12 February has been long calling for bringing Europe closer to its citizens, as a means of restoring trust.
The CoR President and Governor of the region of Central Macedonia highlighted that funds “for hospitals and schools, local transport, environment, universities and small businesses” constitute an “investment” on the future of EU27 citizens and should not bear the cost of Brexit.
“We are aware of the financial impact of Brexit, but the costs should not be placed on the shoulders of cities and regions. This is not about money, it is an investment on the future of our people,” said Tzitzikostas.
He added that in most countries of the bloc, the funds for cohesion, agriculture and rural development account for almost 50% of total public investment, which demonstrates their key role in economic growth, job creation and the single market.
