At today’s debate of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), EPP-CoR speakers delivered a strong joint warning: the European Commission’s proposed changes risk weakening Cohesion Policy, undermining the Common Agricultural Policy, and centralising the EU budget in ways that disregard the needs and responsibilities of Europe’s regions and cities.
Participants emphasised that cohesion, agriculture, and regional participation are not optional elements of the EU budget—they are foundational pillars of the European project. The EPP-CoR affirmed its readiness to work closely with the European Parliament to defend a place-based, partnership-driven, and sufficiently ambitious budget for the next decade.
Siegfried Mureșan (EPP/RO), Member of the European Parliament and co-rapporteur of the “Report on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world,” stressed that Parliament will not accept attempts to reduce or renationalise cohesion or agricultural funding: “We insist that Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy remain distinct EU priorities with their own legislative bases, budgets and objectives. We reject any ‘Europe à la carte’ approach in which national governments decide whether to fund cohesion or agriculture depending on their preferences.” He underlined the indispensable role of regional and local authorities: “Your experience and proximity to citizens are essential if Europe’s new priorities in security, defence and competitiveness are to deliver real results on the ground.” Mureșan outlined Parliament’s timeline for amendments and consultation, inviting the CoR to contribute actively in early 2025.
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia said “At the CoR, we stand as allies of the Parliament. Behind the numbers are our citizens. We must be rigorous, but realistic: cuts to cohesion mean cuts to people’s opportunities. We must work together to allow our cities and regions to thrive.”
Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR Group said “Europe succeeds when we stand together—regions, cities and institutions working side by side. Regional and local investment must remain central to EU policy if we want to achieve our common goals. Our communities need stability and a long-term European commitment.”
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca posed a direct challenge to EU leaders: “If cohesion is no longer European, and agriculture is no longer European, then what remains truly European in the EU budget? A Europe that forgets its foundations risks losing its future.”
He presented four key proposals:
1. Cohesion must cover all regions—ending automatic eligibility for many regions would be unprecedented.
2. Mandatory partnership with regions and cities—a place-based approach must guide every euro.
3. Binding regional checks—ex-ante and ex-post territorial analyses with real legal effect.
4. A ‘do no harm to cohesion’ test—mainstreamed across all EU programmes, from climate to security.
“Let us make every euro count twice: for competitiveness and for cohesion. Keep Europe together—leave no region, no person behind.”
Thomas Schmidt, Member of the Saxon State Parliament stressed the dangers of shifting cohesion governance to national plans: “Decisions on cohesion funding must remain with the regional and local level. Adding national layers increases administrative burden and contradicts the EU’s own simplification goals. We must work with Parliament to prevent this.”
Celia Alberto Pérez, Director General for European Affairs, Government of the Canary Islands highlighted the disproportionate impact on island and outermost regions: “This MFF represents a setback to the European spirit. It ignores the specific needs of islands and peripheral regions. The proposal does not offer the legal and financial guarantees we require. We call for maintaining current programmes and safeguarding territorial fairness.”
Pablo Hurtado Pardo, Director General for External Action, Regional Government of Extremadura challenged the notion that the MFF design is already settled: “We cannot accept being told that regions are too late to the debate. The EU budget expresses our shared political priorities—it cannot be defined without the active participation of those who implement European policy on the ground.” He urged the EU institutions to keep negotiation channels fully open: “Listening is not institutional weakness—it is democratic maturity.”
Anton Mattle, Minister-President of the State of Tyrol emphasised cohesion as a strategic instrument: “Cohesion Policy is key to delivering EU reforms and objectives because it brings European added value directly to citizens. A single national plan per Member State contradicts decentralisation and the partnership principle and must be rejected.” He warned: “If we do not bring the benefits of the Union directly to citizens, support for Europe will decline dramatically—something we cannot afford in today’s global context.”
María Isabel Urrutia de los Mozos, Regional Minister for the Presidency, Justice, Security and Administrative Simplification, Government of Cantabria warned that centralisation would weaken the EU’s resilience: “If regional and local levels are excluded from decision-making on cohesion and the MFF, Europe is heading towards failure. Preparedness, prevention, and response capacity all depend on the involvement of regions.” She advocated for flexible, region-managed mechanisms: “We need instruments that allow immediate mobilisation of resources in crises. Only with genuine regional participation can cohesion become the backbone of a more resilient and united Europe.”