EPP-CoR urges the European Commission to heed the united demand of EU institutions for a fair and partnership-based post-2027 budget
In a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the leading political groups of the European Parliament have echoed the main concerns and demands long voiced by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR): to defend cohesion and agricultural policies as core European investments, to guarantee predictable resources and shared management, and to ensure that democracy and subsidiarity remain at the heart of Europe’s financial architecture.
Political groups representing a majority in the European Parliament have made clear their rejection of the National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) proposal as it stands, urging the Commission to present an amended version that can serve as a sound basis for negotiations. The Parliament’s letter rejects any attempt to renationalise EU investment, stresses the need for stand-alone, predictable funding for cohesion and agriculture, and calls for stronger engagement of regions and local authorities in line with the partnership and subsidiarity principles.
The EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) fully supports this initiative and reiterates its call for the Commission to urgently table a new proposal that respects shared management and democratic accountability.
Sari Rautio (FI/EPP), President of the EPP-CoR Group and CoR rapporteur on the future MFF, said: “We are pleased that the European Parliament supports our call to revise the Commission’s proposal on the National and Regional Partnership Plan Fund. We reiterate the regions’ demand to maintain the established practice of shared management of funds, as well as the role of regions in cohesion, agricultural, and rural development policies. Regions and cities must receive legal guarantees confirming their role as key partners in preparing, negotiating, implementing, and monitoring National and Regional Partnership Plans. Shifting decision-making to the national level without the strong engagement of regions would run counter to the principle of subsidiarity and weaken Europe’s multilevel governance.”
Juanma Moreno (ES/EPP), First Vice-President of the CoR and President of Andalusia, added: “The European Committee of the Regions immediately reacted to the proposal by bringing together regions, cities, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, and associations of local governments. Now, this unity is mobilised to prevent the next budget from undermining the partnership of trust between regions, cities, and the EU.”
The EPP-CoR welcomes this unprecedented show of institutional unity between the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions. It reflects a shared conviction that Europe’s strength lies in the partnership between all levels of government — European, national, regional, and local — working together to deliver growth, sustainability, and cohesion for all citizens.