Member Article

Liverpool's Mayor calls for localised EU funding powers

Liverpool’s Mayor has urged European Commissioner, Johannes Hahn, to ensure EU funding decisions are made within city regions rather than by national government.

Mayor Joe Anderson called on the Commissioner alongside an announcement that discussions around Liverpool’s Cruise Liner Terminal, which is part of the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development, could be concluded by this summer.

Following a visit to Brussels last week to meet with key officials from the European Commission, the Mayor said he aimed to “find a clear way forward” for the major redevelopment scheme.

He said: “We have already provided information on the terminal to both the government and the Commission. But I think it’s better to meet people face to face. We were warmly welcomed and the meeting was very encouraging.

“I am confident that a conclusion will be reached quickly – possibly as early as the summer.”

The Mayor also directly addressed Commissioner Hahn, who is responsible for regional policy and has a leading role in developing the new round of EU Structural Funds for 2014 – 2020, to ask for support for localised funding allocation.

His request comes alongside an announcement that €784m of European Commission funding will be taken away from the UK.

Liverpool and partners in the Liverpool City Region joined the Mayor in his calls to ensure funding decisions for projects and initiatives should be made locally.

Mayor Joe Anderson said: “The best people to decide how money should be spent are the people who live there.

“We understand the challenges, the problems and the solutions. We will make the money go further and ensure that every penny creates jobs, services and wealth for our regions.

“There is a risk that too many decisions on EU funding will be decided at the national level.

“Looking at the next seven years we need to ensure that funding decisions are genuinely made at the local level.

“The bigger the gap between funding and decision making, the more chance that cash will simply miss the mark. Delegation is vital. The new programme must be delegated.”

“Liverpool people understand Liverpool needs. No one should presume that London’-based civil servants know our priorities better than we do.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .