Opinion underlines the importance of Cohesion Policy in achieving the objectives and advocated a strong place-based approach to reduce territorial inequalities.
Local and regional leaders gave the first greenlight to the draft opinion that aims at amending the current proposal for the EU long-term budget 2028-34, while starting the in-dept work on sectorial regulations that will be part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Members of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted on 2 December the draft opinion on the MFF post-2027 prepared by Sari Rautio (FI/EPP), city councillor of Hämeenlinna and President of the EPP-CoR.
Addressing the COTER Commission Rautio said "Regions must be genuine partners in the EU budget, not mere followers. This is not only about money, although adequate resources are clearly crucial. It is about European democracy. It is about the added value of the European Union. It is about our common future." She called for the next MFF to based on multilevel governance, strong partnerships and a place-based approach. "This is not because regions are asking for more power for themselves. It is because we want the European Union to remain competitive, secure and cohesive in the future – the best place in the world to live, work and invest."
Through Rautio's opinion, the CoR's overall aims are to keep regions and cities at the heart of EU policy and to reverse the trend towards centralisation at European and national levels. The Committee is seeking to keep both cohesion and agricultural strong, as it is in the treaty, as cornerstones of the European investment strategies and to ensure predictable financing for every region, not only for the poorest ones. Local and regional leaders are also calling to keep the place-based approach, shared management and a genuine partnership among different levels of governance as fundamental and non-negotiable core principles of Cohesion Policy. Moreover, COTER members supported the Commission’s proposal for five new sources of EU revenue to reinforce the long-term budget.
Siegfried Muresan (EPP/RO), MEP, and European Parliament co-rapporteur on the next MFF said “On 16 July, the Commission proposed adding competitiveness and security as new priorities. We fully agree they are necessary, but not at the expense of cohesion policy or the CAP, which remain vital for the Union’s balanced development. This is why we oppose merging cohesion, agricultural policy and other programmes into a single fund—an approach that would erase cohesion policy’s distinct role and predictability and force regions and farmers to compete for the same resources. It would blur the line between rural development and cohesion investments. Our vision is different: a truly European cohesion policy, designed at EU level, that is innovative, modern and future-oriented.”
Through the opinion, Rautio wants to secure major changes to the package proposed on 16 July. During the discussion there was agreement that the letter sent few weeks ago by the President of the European Commission, indicating her intention to amend parts of the initial proposal, should be seen as a positive step forward. However, the reassurances should be transformed into concrete legislative proposals.
Muresan who serves as Vice-Chair of the EPP Group in the European Parliament also spoke on the positive steps made thanks to the efforts of the European Parliament "The Commission’s revised proposal of 10 November – introducing the regional check, a rural target, and safeguarded amounts for all regions – is a useful first step. But for us, it is the beginning, not the end. We now need to: make the goals for regions mandatory, secure funding for all types of regions, and define clearly how the 10% rural target will be used and for what objectives. You can count on us to keep defending cohesion policy, the role of regions, and a fair, future-oriented European budget."
Ivan Zagar (EPP/SL), Mayor of the Municipality of Slovenska Bistrica of and EPP-CoR Coordinator stressed that the success of the European Union is closely linked to the success of its cohesion policy. He added "we must take fully into account the needs and specificities of the different regions in the European Union. If we want our development to be effective, and if we want EU funds to be used efficiently, we must listen to those who are closest to the projects – the local and regional actors who implement them on the ground. Our experience consistently confirms this."
Background
This MFF opinion does not stand alone. Nineteen other opinions on the MFF are being drafted by the CoR. This opinion is intended as an overarching political message, highlighting the most important issues.
