Next came structural and cohesion funds with approximately 30.4% of the total.

For this reason, we must maintain and reinforce the cohesion funds.

I think that we must learn from the successes of the structural and cohesion funds.

In other parts of the Union, people are nervous about the money from the structural and cohesion funds.

Allow me to ask a few questions: why is there a desire to eliminate these cohesion funds in the future?

They are going to get used to the idea of a Cohesion Fund, which is a different matter.

When this has been achieved, then I would say that the cohesion fund will have fulfilled its role.

We should establish actions which allow us to access the structural and cohesion funds.

That kind of synergy could be achieved using the cohesion fund.

We have voted against the report on the Cohesion Fund.

I also want to make two points in connection with the Cohesion Fund.

The fact that they misallocated the cohesion funds is not our error.

But the Cohesion Fund is not just an act of generosity.

The establishment of the cohesion fund and eligibility to benefit from it were agreed by all the member states.

Allow me again to clarify the Commission's proposal for the cohesion fund, since this was a key part of the discussion.

There is no denying the success of the Cohesion Fund.

However, it would be a mistake to think that we do not need to question the current level of the Cohesion Fund.

The first area is that of cohesion funds and funds related to regional policy.

We are not talking about the cohesion funds.

A majority wants more money for the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund.

Secondly, commit the cohesion fund to the genuinely poor regions in Europe.

The second line which may require additional appropriations is the Cohesion Fund.

After all, this report has made us aware that approximately 11% of the Cohesion Fund for 2008 should never have been spent.

I would like to underline that this will really be an opportunity for cohesion funds, as the honourable Member has already said.

Secondly, the cohesion fund must be maintained in view of its efficiency and relevance to the present situation.