European Briefing Session takes place in Cornwall
South West MEPs, Councillors and Officers from across the region and European experts recently gathered at New County Hall in Truro on 25 June to discuss how the South West can work best with Europe to ensure benefits for the region’s recovering economy.
The event was an opportunity for all involved to discuss how the South West region should engage with Europe to ensure a good deal for the economy, to continue to combat the challenges faced by climate change and reduced resources and look to securing the best possible scenarios for the future.
Cornwall Council and the South West UK Brussels Office hosted the information and discussion forum which was attended by two of the South West Members of the European Parliament – Graham Watson (Lib Dem) and Julie Girling (Con).
Cllr Carolyn Rule, Chairman of the event, said afterwards: “Speaking on the theme of the Recovering Economy, Graham Watson expressed the importance of innovation in ensuring rapid recovery from economic decline.
“This is something that we have great experience of in Cornwall with many projects funded by Objective One and Convergence funding being recognised Europe-wide as being forward thinking and innovative responses to local need. I am certain that Cornwall possesses the skills needed to ensure our continued economic growth through this difficult period.”
The briefing fell at an important time in the development of European policy with the mid term reviews of Cornwall’s Convergence programme underway and the debate on the next round of funding for 2013-2021 building pace in Brussels. The event was also set against the backdrop of the economic crisis and a new UK government.
The morning’s event focussed on three main areas of concern both to the South West and the EU, relating to the recovering Economy, Environment and place shaping and future cohesion policy. Delegates were given the opportunity to put questions to the MEP’s on issues of concern and interest and the agenda included key note speeches from each of the MEP’s followed by presentations from local and regional experts in the areas discussed.
The meeting was also told that it was important that the public sector were able to support entrepreneurs in their challenge to regenerate the economy as a result of the recession and public spending cuts. It would be through this support that the private sector would be able to have a transformational role in improving the economy. The importance of business start-up, support and growth programmes was also highlighted.
