Ms Gillian Coughlan:

The name of the proposed fund is the European fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security. One size will not fill all. Yes, the Cohesion Fund has its flaws. Any fund or policy will have its flaws but we need it to stand alone, particularly as we are taking about enlargement. We should not pull the ladder up. That is not good enough. We cannot be seen to be pulling the ladder up. Cohesion policy will help citizens across Europe and will strengthen the European Union. This proposed fund should certainly not be implemented.