European Parliament
Julie Girling  (ECR ).
– Mr President, I voted against this report on the evolution of EU macro-regional strategies, with particular reference to the Mediterranean. Not because I have any particular problem with the Mediterranean and those countries working together if they should wish, but I fundamentally object to being required to make decisions based on an attempted evaluation where insufficient evidence is provided.
I oppose the report’s suggestion that regions should be forced to use some of their Structural Funds to fund any macro-regional strategy. This should most definitely be a decision left to Member States. If joint work between Member States and joint funding is appropriate, then good. Go ahead. But they should make that decision bilaterally.

