Starting on Thursday, the EPP Group Bureau will hold a two-day meeting in Bucharest, Romania, to discuss cohesion policy as a structural policy promoting growth and economic development across all EU regions as a key EU instrument for investment in the real economy.

"Cohesion policy is a fundamental pillar of the European Union, a symbol of solidarity between the Member States and of our commitment to building a strong Europe together. Bucharest is the perfect place to discuss the future of this policy which is close to the EPP Group’s heart”, declared Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

“Cohesion policy needs to be clearly aimed at economic development and job creation. The EPP Group stands for a strong policy during the second part of the current financial framework as well as after 2020”, said Marian-Jean Marinescu MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group responsible for the Working Group on Budget and Structural Policies and author of the EPP Group’s Position Paper ‘The Future of Cohesion Policy’.

The agenda of the meeting includes a debate on EPP Group priorities for the second half of the legislature and an exchange of views on Black Sea security with Members of the Romanian Parliament. The Vice-President of the European Commission for Budget and Human Resources, Kristalina Georgieva, will participate in the debate on the EPP Group’s Position Paper ‘Drafting the future EU Cohesion Policy in order to boost jobs and growth’ which will be submitted to the entire EPP Group for approval.

“The EPP Group Bureau meeting in Bucharest is the right moment to remember that the EPP Group has always supported the aspiration of Romania to become a member of the Schengen zone and that the USA and Canada lift the visa requirement for Romanian citizens. I hope these objectives are achieved through our common efforts”, highlighted Theodor Stolojan MEP, joint Head of the Romanian Delegation of the EPP Group.

“The presence of the EPP Group in Bucharest is an important signal showing that the largest European political group is interested in the European future of Romania. Besides, the PNL is bringing the European agenda closer to Romanian citizens and to the centre of our electoral debates”, stated Adina-Ioana Vălean MEP, joint Head of the Romanian Delegation of the EPP Group and Vice-President of the European Parliament.

The meeting programme includes special interventions by Alina-Ștefania Gorghiu, co-President of the Partidul Naţional Liberal (PNL), Vasile Blaga, co-President of the PNL, and Hunor Kelemen, President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ/UDMR).