A Cohesion Policy Council comprising the ministers responsible for regional development at the relevant level of government in each Member State and a representative of the Committee of the Regions as coordinator of cooperation would better facilitate building an open and polycentric Europe suggests the opinion on Improvement in the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020 adopted by the CoR's Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) today.

The rapporteur, Marek Woźniak (EPP/PL), President of Wielkopolska Region states that such a composition would strengthen the system of checks and balances:
"The Committee would be willing to play an active role in the political discussions on the establishment of such a structure with a view to ensuring that the point of view of local and regional authorities is fully taken on board."

Woźniak considers building an open and polycentric Europe as the most cohesive territorial strategy that supports economic growth and competitiveness, social cohesion and the targets relating to sustainable development promoted by the Europe 2020 strategy and the Territorial Agenda 2020 for the coming decades:

"The place-based territorial approach  is the only policy model through which the Union can address the expectations of European citizens. This is also why the European Union, with the active commitment of the Committee of the Regions, must play a bigger role in the development of a place-based approach that will improve the way the EU Territorial Agenda is implemented."

Woźniak suggests drawing up indicators to measure the territorial development of EU policy, which could be used to support decision-makers in terms of measuring and monitoring territorial cohesion:

"The smart, sustainable and inclusive growth of the EU involves much more than just increasing GDP. It encompasses also territorial, social, environmental and cultural aspects. Territorial cohesion is complementary to economic and social cohesion and therefore cannot be measured solely by economic indicators."

Furthermore, Woźniak's opinion calls for drawing-up of an integrated spatial development strategy at the European level. With a view to cohesion policy after 2020, it also recommends developing a territorial dimension in strategic thinking on Europe 2020 and beyond. Highlighting the role of infrastructure as an instrument of territorial cohesion, it invites the Commission to step up its efforts to complete the TEN-T core network, particularly in terms of removing bottlenecks and facilitating cross-border connections and to strengthen the involvement of local and regional authorities in the corridor platforms.

The opinion will be subject to the vote at the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions in April 2015.