The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) calls for a European mobilisation to secure a post-2027 budget that strengthens the Union’s cohesion and unity. The CoR has warned that the current proposal for the EU’s long-term budget after 2027 could lead to further centralisation in the hands of the European Commission and the renationalisation of Cohesion Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the Common Fisheries Policy, putting these key instruments in competition with each other. If accepted, the proposal could undermine trust in EU institutions and jeopardise democracy in Europe due to the foreseen lack of oversight by the European Parliament and national or regional parliaments over regional investments. These were the main messages included in a resolution unanimously adopted by local and regional leaders from across the political spectrum at the CoR plenary session on 15 October, held during the 23rd European Week of Regions and Cities.
Sari Rautio, President of the European Committee of the Regions and President of the City Council of Hämeenlinna (Finland), said: “Leaving regions and cities aside will ruin the EU as we know it. It is not just about money – it is about democracy and European unity. We want to improve Cohesion Policy and make Europe more competitive, but the Commission’s proposal is not the right way forward.”
Brigitta Pallauf, Member of the Salzburg Regional Parliament and former President of the Salzburg State Parliament (Austria), stated:“The renationalisation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will make Europe more distant from its citizens. Local and regional authorities must continue to be involved in the planning and implementation of the MFF. Any other approach will reduce transparency and represent a huge step backwards.”
Sonja Ledl-Rossmann, President of the State Parliament of Tyrol (Austria), added: “We need support for cross-border cooperation because it is precisely these partnerships that tackle major challenges on a daily basis. The Commission’s proposal does not do justice to this, and if it persists, public acceptance of the EU will continue to decline. Therefore, we are united and fully convinced that, as countries and as regions, we cannot support this proposal.”
Pablo Hurtado Pardo, Director General for External Action, Regional Government of Extremadura (Spain), underlined: “The MFF is not just a document – it is the expression of a collective political will that gives meaning and strength to the European project. The shared management model represents democratic legitimacy. We need to defend the subsidiarity principle and prevent the renationalisation of Cohesion Policy. We cannot allow this policy to be centralised. We must stand firmly behind the principles of subsidiarity and multi-level governance, and build strong alliances to keep cohesion at the heart of the European project.”
Pablo Broseta Dupré, Vice-Minister for Representation to the European Union and the Spanish Autonomous Regions, Government of the Region of Valencia (Spain), stressed: “While we support the MFF, we must guarantee that regions play a decisive role in shaping, managing, and allocating the funds.”
Cristian Antuñano, member of the Young Elected Politicians (YEP) programme and Councillor of Castro-Urdiales (Spain), said: “The possible cuts to the CAP worry us as administrators, but above all, they worry our livestock farmers, crop farmers, and fishermen. From the People’s Party, we defend a strong, modern, and fair CAP that supports producers, effort, sustainability, and innovation. Likewise, we need EU funds to be used efficiently in projects that truly transform our communities and cities — to ensure a future for young people and to foster territorial cohesion. A clear example is the railway connecting Bilbao, Castro-Urdiales (my city), and Santander. We are not just talking about an infrastructure project — we are talking about competitiveness and the future. Europe must reward effort, talent, and the desire to move forward — and young people from Cantabria and Spain embody all these qualities.”
Thomas Schmidt, Member of the Saxon State Parliament highlighted that "The future of the MFF is a question of the direction we take as the European Union. For our regions, the MFF means the opportunity to make the EU visible on the ground and to make the regions where people live fit for the future. The Commission's proposal does not do justice to this in any way."
Frédéric Bierry, President of the European Collectivity of Alsace (France), concluded: “Together, we can go further by simplifying rules and procedures for cross-border workers, strengthening bilingual training, and fostering innovation in sustainable mobility across borders.”