During a meeting of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), EPP-CoR members discussed the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), including Interreg, and the Cohesion Fund. Members expressed concern about elements of the current proposal, warning against centralisation and emphasising that cohesion policy must remain firmly rooted in territories.
María GUARDIOLA MARTÍN (ES/EPP), President of Extremadura, was appointed by the COTER Commission to draft the CoR opinion on the proposed regulation establishing the ERDF, including European territorial cooperation (Interreg), and the Cohesion Fund.
Speaking on her behalf, Pablo HURTADO PARDO (ES/EPP), Director-General for External Action of the Regional Government of Extremadura, underlined the importance of cohesion instruments. He said “There is no doubt that the ERDF, Interreg and the Cohesion Fund have been, and remain, fundamental instruments for transforming our territories. They have generated tangible change across Europe—from infrastructure and connectivity, to innovation ecosystems, to cross-border projects that bring people and businesses together. In Extremadura, we have countless examples of how these funds helped us overcome structural challenges, promote sustainable development and create opportunities. These experiences show that cohesion policy works when it is adequately funded, well designed and firmly rooted in our territories. This is why we are concerned about the direction of the current proposal. The future framework must preserve the strategic role of cohesion policy, maintain clear objectives and instruments, and ensure that local and regional authorities can plan and invest in the long term.”
Ivan ŽAGAR, Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica (EPP/SI), voiced similar concerns: “I remain worried about elements of the proposal, particularly decisions concentrated at national level. Experience shows this often results in centralisation. Flexibility is essential—but it must reach regional and local authorities, whose needs must genuinely be taken into account. Another key issue is simplification. What does it mean in practice? It could result in more centralisation or more bureaucracy. If ‘simplification’ ends up meaning more red tape, I cannot support it. We need less centralisation and less bureaucracy—not more.”
Alin-Adrian NICA (EPP/RO), Councillor at Timiș County Council, called for:
• Dedicated funding for regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine;
• Simplified mechanisms allowing funds to reach depopulating rural communities directly, without excessive national-level bureaucracy;
• Flexible housing support, covering both new construction and renovation—which is crucial in Eastern Europe where energy efficiency must be accompanied by structural safety;
• Genuine shared management, ensuring local authorities have real decision-making power in project selection, not merely a consultative role.
Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (GR/EPP), Mayor of Glyfada, strongly defended Interreg’s identity: “Interreg has been part of the European Union for decades. It is part of the European DNA. Just as it would be unthinkable to say, ‘Let’s simplify by changing Erasmus and calling it something else,’ it is difficult to see how Interreg could simply be merged into other programmes. Cross-border cooperation is critical to the European project.
Would it not be more coherent to have a separate regulation for Interreg, rather than subsuming it under a broader framework in the name of simplification?”
Background
On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Regional Development Fund, including European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg), and the Cohesion Fund, setting out conditions for Union support to regional development for 2028–2034. The proposal was presented alongside the Regulation establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural development, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security for 2028–2034 (NRP Regulation).
The NRP Regulation lays down common rules for several funds, including the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, proposing that they be grouped into a single fund implemented through national and regional partnership (NRP) plans.
The proposal establishing the ERDF and Cohesion Fund provides that the ERDF will support disadvantaged areas, sustainable urban development and the outermost regions. Under Interreg, it will support cross-border, transnational, interregional and outermost-region cooperation.
Importantly, the proposal stipulates that Interreg should be implemented outside the 27 NRP plans through a dedicated Interreg plan, consisting of chapters covering different geographical areas and levels of government. For cooperation with non-EU countries, Interreg will be closely linked to the Global Europe initiative.
