At the annual joint meeting of the European Parliament’s REGI Committee and the European Committee of the Regions’ COTER Commission, leading representatives from the European People’s Party (EPP) called for a stronger, simpler, and more regionally driven Cohesion Policy as the EU prepares its post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The EPP highlighted the risks of centralisation and the need to preserve the partnership principle and the role of local and regional authorities.
Ivan Žagar, Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica and EPP-CoR COTER Coordinator said that the current proposal puts programmes in the hands of national governments undermining the trust in the legitimacy of the EU. Consultations are not enough — we want legally binding solutions. He added "Changes are necessary, but they need to bring us towards greater cohesion, not greater disparities and divisions. We should not undermine the trust that was constructed from the grassroots upwards — this is the fundamental element of European unity. Cohesion Policy is the greatest long-term investment for the future of the EU. It must remain well-financed.” Žagar emphasised that multilevel governance must remain at the core of Cohesion Policy, warning against excessive concentration of decision-making power at national level.
Gabriella Gerzsenyi, MEP from the EPP Group in the European Parliament and member of the REGI Committee appealed for careful consideration of the implications of merging the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Funds under a single framework. She stressed "Such an approach risks creating competition between the two policies and could potentially undermine the very essence of Cohesion Policy — its commitment to fostering economic, social, and territorial cohesion across the Union." The MEP expressed concern that an overly centralised approach could weaken the essential role of local and regional authorities, who are closest to citizens and best placed to understand their needs.
Sari Rautio, President of the EPP-CoR and CoR Rapporteur on the next MFF invited members of the REGI Committee to take note of the resolution adopted by the CoR. She said "The resolution is an excellent and concise presentation of the challenges we are currently facing, and it provides a strong foundation for the continuation of our discussion together." The resolution states that long-term budget after 2027 could lead to further centralisation in the hands of the Commission and nationalisation of Cohesion Policy, fisheries and agricultural policy, putting them in competition. Moreover, if accepted, the proposal could undermine trust in the EU institutions and jeopardise democracy in Europe due to the foreseen lack of oversight by the European Parliament and national or regional parliaments on regional investment.
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj Napoca referred the Recovery and Resilience Facility stating that regions and cities were not consulted. "Taking the provision of the RRF and putting this into this framework is not going to work." With respect to governance Boc emphaised that the golden principles of cohesion policy including shared management must be preserved.
In his keynote address, Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, reaffirmed the European Commission’s commitment to keeping Cohesion Policy at the heart of the European project: “Europe needs Cohesion Policy. It remains one of our strongest instruments to ensure that no region, city, or community is left behind. It must continue to provide tailored solutions to the realities of each territory — while evolving and modernising to respond to new economic and social challenges. This is our shared responsibility and our most important task. Our common goal is to modernise and simplify Cohesion Policy so that it can deliver more effectively and respond faster to emerging challenges.”
Background
The Annual REGI–COTER joint meeting, titled “Cohesion Policy at a Crossroads: Shaping the Post-2027 MFF”, brought together Members of the European Parliament and the European Committee of the Regions to discuss the future direction of Cohesion Policy beyond 2027. EPP representatives reiterated their commitment to a place-based, partnership-driven, and well-financed Cohesion Policy that empowers regions and cities to deliver growth, jobs, and sustainable development across all territories.