The European Committee of the Regions has released the sixth EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities, offering a comprehensive overview of the main challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s territories. The 2025 edition highlights the crucial role of regions and cities in driving Europe’s transformation — from tackling climate change and demographic shifts to ensuring social cohesion and economic resilience.
The report confirms that EU funding for regional development has long driven convergence and growth, with local and regional authorities implementing over 70% of EU policies and managing two-thirds of public investment. However, the European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) risks centralising decision-making and weakening the partnership between the EU and its regions. A one-size-fits-all approach cannot address Europe’s diverse local realities.
The Flash Eurobarometer survey, commissioned by the European Committee of the Regions and conducted by Ipsos, gathers insights from over 3,300 EU regional and local politicians representing a highly diverse set of constituencies at various levels of government.
The survey offers a platform for local leaders—many of whom are not engaged with the CoR—to express their views and awareness on EU funding, priorities for addressing economic and social instability, and actions taken by local authorities in response to crises and climate change.
Readers will find a visual summary of EU-wide results in English, along with country-specific factsheets comparing national data to the EU average, available in all official languages.
