ECR 1st Vice-President Władysław Ortyl spoke on behalf of the ECR Group during the CoR Plenary debate on the new MFF proposal with the two European Parliament co-rapporteur on the file, Siegfried Mureșan (EPP/RO) and Carla Tavares (S&D/PT). 

"While the new MFF proposal is more pragmatic and policy-based compared to the current one, there are still several shortcomings that raise concerns", said Mr Ortyl, highlighting the need to keep "cohesion and agricultural funds separate" in order to avoid the risk of having regions and farmers competing against each other for funds. 

Another concern is that, unlike in less-developed regions, funding for more developed and transition regions is left to national discretion and is "therefore not guaranteed", highlighted Mr Ortyl.

Finally, 1st Vice-President Ortyl emphasized the importance of ensuring that regions remain central to the management and implementation of the funds.”: "If programmes are managed at national level, this will come at the expense of cohesion policy and will undermine the role of regions in the EU budget. Ultimately this will be problematic as it is us, local and regional authorities that know better what is needed in terms of investments at local level".