In view of the European elections and after the publication of two crucial contributions to the ongoing debate on the future Cohesion Policy – the European Commission's 9th Cohesion Report and the conclusions of the Group of High-Level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy – local and regional leaders set red lines needed in order not to undermine the effectiveness of EU regional policy.
A reformed Cohesion Policy built on core principles
CoR's members stated that the much-needed reform of Cohesion Policy post 2027 – when the current programming period will be over – must reinforce, not undermine, the core principles that have made this policy the main EU's tool for addressing territorial disparities and vulnerabilities.
The Chair of the CoR's Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) and Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc (RO/EPP), said: "We are at crossroads and our message is clear: cohesion policy is working and it must be maintained. A reformed Cohesion Policy post 2027 must remain the main EU investment tool and must build on the principles supporting of place-based and tailor-made solutions, of partnership and multi-level governance. Cohesion Policy and the Single market are the two sides of the same coin. Cohesion Policy is a fundamental pillar of the Single market and guarantees that all regions could equally benefit from it."
These core principles are: the shared-management model, which ensures that the responsibility of delivering the policy lies with European Commission, Member States and regions; support for place-based solutions; the principles of additionality (cohesion funds should complement, not replace national public investments), partnership (which implies close cooperation between EU, national, regional and local authorities) and multi-level governance. Moreover, Cohesion Policy should continue to support all regions in Europe, not just the less-developed regions.
Finally, the urgent resolution emphasises the contribution of Cohesion Policy to the integration, economic development and capacity-building of new candidate or potential candidate countries of the European Union.
More information
A new consultation among representatives of regions and cities confirmed that their involvement in the RRF remains inadequately weak, and that the territorial allocation of funds is broadly perceived as unfair and not effective in enhancing territorial cohesion. The consultation was conducted jointly by the CoR and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), collating the views and experiences of 36 organisations representative of a variety of subnational government levels across 22 EU Member States. Press release. Complete findings of the consultation.
President Cordeiro and Mr Boc were recently appointed as co-rapporteurs of the opinion which will assess more in dept the 9th Cohesion Report and the conclusions of the group of High-level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy. They were previously co-rapporteurs on the opinion on the future of Cohesion Policy, adopted by unanimity at the Plenary session in November 2023.
During the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, held in March in Mons (Belgium), the CoR, together with the founding partners of the EU-wide #CohesionAlliance, launched a joint call to the European institutions and national governments to keep Cohesion Policy as the main pillar of the EU's development model over the next decade. Sign the joint call.