European Citizens’ Initiatives are brilliant ways to bring citizens closer to the European Union. I fully support the objectives enshrined in the Cohesion Policy for the equality of the regions ECI, and I invite you, distinguished Colleagues, to support it, too. As you know, there are about 50 million citizens belonging to traditional (historical, ethnic or linguistic, autochthonous) minorities across the EU, including the Hungarian minority in Romania to which I belong myself. Many of these citizens live in a national region, as defined by the initiators of the ECI that we discuss today.

Cohesion policy stands for reducing inequalities among regions. When it comes to one of the core principles of cohesion policy namely “leaving no one behind” it does not only apply to various social groups, but it also means that regions with specific historic heritage should not be disadvantaged. Sustainability of the regional cultures shall be taken into account and tailor-made programmes need to be put in place to achieve this goal. In the process of shaping sustainable public policies we have to take into account that the administrative borders of European regions, NUTS II level or other units, often do not coincide with the traditional ‘cultural borders’, especially so in the areas inhabited by national and linguistic minorities.

I join the initiators of the ECI in calling for legislative work, initiated by the European Commission, to find ways forward inside the competences of the European Union. One such way forward could be the broadening of the scope of the INTERREG Programs, more precisely the cross-border and interregional cooperation strands, to the needs of the local communities living in national regions.

Speaking of needs, I think no other help could be more important that help for those in need because of natural disasters or calamities. Such is the case of the Parajd Salt Mine disaster in Hargita/Harghita County, Romania, my constituency. Hargita County is part of a national region, and European support through the RESTORE instrument or by other means would make really the difference for the local community.

I am sure that our discussion today will identify various other ways to respond to the initiators, and – more importantly – to the citizens who supported the ECI Cohesion Policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures.

Edited intervention of MEP Iuliu Winkler in the REGI Committee on the occasion of the public hearing Cohesion Policy for the equality of regions and the sustainability of regional cultures organised together with LIBE, CULT and PETI