EPP-CoR calls for strategic public–private partnerships to reinforce cohesion policy post-2027
COTER Commission today adopted by unanimity the opinion “Exploring the role of the private sector in reinforcing cohesion policy post-2027”, drafted by Kristoffer Tamsons (SE/EPP), Member of the County Council of the Stockholm Region.
The opinion is one of the first CoR contributions to the debate on the post-2027 cohesion framework and aims to influence the early stages of negotiations on the future legislative package. Its adoption in CoR plenary is planned for 4–5 March 2026.
Cohesion policy needs both public and private engines
Presenting his opinion, rapporteur Kristoffer Tamsons underlined that private investment must complement – not replace – public funding in a fiscally constrained post-2027 context: “Cohesion policy is a long-term investment policy and one of the EU’s key instruments for boosting competitiveness, knowledge and sustainable development. The private sector brings innovation, resources and expertise that are essential to complement public investment. Our goal is not to replace public interest with private interest, but to strengthen public action by working with private partners.”
He also stressed that engaging private actors is indispensable if cohesion policy is to remain effective and credible on the ground: “Private sector engagement is not optional. Used properly, it is essential for the long-term resilience and impact of cohesion investments. Every euro of EU funding must be matched by know-how, investment and accountability – whether from public or private actors – if we want to deliver meaningful results for our regions.”
The opinion calls for reinforcing the partnership principle and embedding private sector participation throughout the cohesion policy cycle, while preserving its place-based character and the key role of local and regional authorities (LRAs).
Local and regional authorities: indispensable partners
EPP-CoR President Sari Rautio welcomed the adoption and highlighted the central role of LRAs in making public–private cooperation work on the ground: “At a moment when we face such ambitious goals and such a difficult context, it is clear that we cannot rely on public money alone – we also need private funding. This opinion explains very clearly why local and regional authorities are indispensable in bringing all stakeholders together. If we want Europe to remain competitive, we need all our engines running – public and private – and that is precisely what this text calls for.”
Rautio underlined that the opinion arrives at a crucial moment, ahead of other CoR positions on the post-2027 framework:
“It is very valuable that this opinion comes before the other texts we are preparing, because it reminds us that we must look at the whole picture – not only the public dimension, but the public and private sides together.”
Background
Cohesion policy is the EU’s main tool to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion. In a context of constrained public budgets, the CoR aims to strengthen the role of the private sector in post-2027 cohesion policy, while fully leveraging the place-based expertise and convening power of LRAs.
Over the past 20 years, the EU budget has evolved to include grants, loans, guarantees, equity instruments and joint borrowing initiatives, helping to leverage private capital and increase the impact of public funds. LRAs are central in designing and implementing projects, mobilising private finance and delivering local solutions. However, challenges remain, including capacity gaps in public authorities, administrative complexity for SMEs, and the risk that future cohesion programming becomes overly centralised.
The opinion adopted today seeks to ensure that post-2027 cohesion policy enables strong and strategic private-sector involvement, backed by EU-supported financial instruments and targeted support for LRAs.
Next steps
Following its adoption in COTER, the opinion “Exploring the role of the private sector in reinforcing cohesion policy post-2027” (COTER-VIII/004) will be submitted for adoption at the CoR Plenary session on 4–5 March 2026. It will feed into the broader debate on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the future of EU cohesion policy.
