Member of European Parliaments Dubravka Šuica spoke at the plenary debate in Strasbourg on the Member of European Parliaments Dubravka Šuica spoke at the plenary debate in Strasbourg on the budgetary constraints of regional and local authorities in the use of European Union structural funds.

˝The current crisis has affected the situation of local and regional governments who are faced with the problem of falling revenue since the central government is cutting transfers and requiring of local authorities to contribute to the austerity measures on the one hand, while on the other hand they must ensure for increased demands for social services and benefits.˝

˝It is important that the units of local and regional government focus on investment and that it be sustainable and smart,˝ said Šuica. ˝It is important to focus all resources to competitiveness, growth and job creation and to allow flexibility of the Agreement for Stability and Economic Growth. Local and regional authorities should not be punished because of the difficulties that face the Member States at the national level. I support the simplification of rules and increased transparency in the management of structural funds thus allowing better and faster implementation of projects, especially for Croatia, which has just joined the European Union,˝ concluded Šuica.