“From automotive to semiconductors, from agri-food to defense, it is our regions that create the conditions for competitiveness. We connect companies with universities and research, we train the workforce, and we direct European and national investments to foster cooperation and innovation. Without the active involvement of local and regional authorities, Europe cannot win the race for competitiveness.” said Alberto Cirio, President of the Piedmont Region and Chair of the CoR ECON Commission at a conference on Competitiveness. 
 
The conference addresses the major challenges facing Europe: industrial reconversion, supply chain resilience, defense industry, ecological and digital transitions, and agricultural security
 
Warning against centralization
Cirio expressed concern about the European Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 budget, which risks centralizing investment decisions in Brussels and national capitals. He warned that such an approach could undermine cohesion and agricultural policies while concentrating resources in a few large-scale projects.
 
“Betting everything on a handful of gigafactories would be a mistake. Europe’s competitiveness model has always been rooted in its small and medium-sized enterprises, supported by the energy of local and regional actors,” he said.
 
Cohesion and competitiveness: two sides of the same coin
Cirio stressed that cohesion policy and competitiveness policy must be seen as complementary, not contradictory. Cohesion enables inclusive growth across all regions, while innovation and competitiveness strategies support pioneers and industrial leaders.
 
“Opposing cohesion and competitiveness is a distortion. Europe needs both: inclusive growth driven by cohesion and pioneering innovation to compete globally,” he concluded. “The Committee of the Regions will continue to advocate for a European growth model that fully recognizes the role of regional and local authorities.”

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