Members of the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions (EPP-CoR) have called for stronger, more predictable and accessible EU funding to deliver Europe's climate and environmental ambitions. Speaking at a joint ENVI–ENVE meeting, they stressed the need to protect Cohesion Policy and territorial investments, guarantee direct funding for cities and regions, and ensure their involvement in EU programmes. They also called for continued investment in climate adaptation, sustainable transport, energy resilience and nature protection, alongside greater support for environmental innovation.
The meeting, entitled “Building a sustainable future: funding environmental and climate policies in the next Multiannual Financial Framework”, brought together members of the European Parliament's ENVI Committee and the European Committee of the Regions' ENVE Commission to discuss environmental priorities in the next EU long-term budget.
Rafał Trzaskowski (PL/EPP), Mayor of Warsaw and ENVE Rapporteur on ‘Mainstreaming climate, energy and environmental priorities across the Multiannual Financial Framework', called for a strong and predictable EU budget that preserves Cohesion Policy and ensures meaningful regional involvement in National and Regional Partnership Plans. “Now more than ever, we need stable, direct funding for cities to deliver climate action, including investments in adaptation, sustainable transport, energy resilience and environmental transition,” he said.
Konstantinos Bakoyannis (EL/EPP), Chair of the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) in the European Committee of the Regions, warned against cuts to regional and territorial policies and called for binding safeguards for local and regional participation in EU programmes. “The European budget is one of our most powerful tools for turning Europe’s climate and environmental ambitions into action, and cities and regions must have a real role in designing and implementing programmes,” he stated. Bakoyannis also stressed the importance of preserving the objectives and achievements of LIFE and the EU Missions on Climate-Neutral Cities and Adaptation, even if these instruments are restructured.
Åsa Ågren Wikström (SE/EPP), EPP-CoR ENVE coordinator highlighted that local and regional authorities implement between 70% and 90% of European Green Deal policies and called for strong territorial chapters, regional checks and a place-based approach to EU investment. “If Europe wants to be more competitive, sustainable and responsive to citizens, it needs a budget that delivers tangible benefits where people live, from better air and water quality to sustainable transport, greener cities and lower energy bills,” she said.
Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), Vice-President of Harghita County Council, emphasised the specific needs of rural, mountain and nature-rich regions, calling for direct funding for environmental prevention, local data, research and rapid action. “The next EU budget must not only set green targets. It must also support the people and local authorities who protect nature and live with its daily challenges, especially in rural, mountain and nature rich regions,” he said. Borboly also proposed a joint ENVI–ENVE exchange on the forthcoming Nature Stress Test to translate its findings into practical funding solutions.
Markku Markkula (FI/EPP) stressed the importance of mobilising private investment and helping environmental innovations reach industrial production. “Public money alone isn't enough to face our challenges and solve our problems. We don’t lack the innovation, our problem is that many innovations never reach the industrial production stage. We have to work on that,” he said.
The EPP-CoR members underlined that the next EU budget must match Europe's environmental ambitions with adequate resources, effective funding instruments and a stronger role for cities and regions in delivering climate and environmental action on the ground.