Cities and Regions join forces for a reformed and strong Cohesion Policy

​Two months ahead of the European elections, the main challenges for the future of Cohesion Policy - including a just transition towards an environmentally sustainable society,crossborder cooperation and Cohesion Policy'srole vis à visnew instruments like the post-pandemic recovery plan - were discussed on 8 April by members of the Commission for territorial Cohesion Policy and EU budget (COTER).

Cohesion Policy is a European success story that now needs to be renovated and become simpler, more flexible and more robust. However, Cohesion Policy must remain the main investment tool of the EU to fight against territorial, economic and social inequalities. The post-2027 reform cannot put into question Cohesion Policy's fundamental principles: shared management, place-based approach, strengthened partnership with all parts of society, and multi-level governance based on genuine dialogue between local, regional, national and EU authorities. These are the main messages that local and regional leaders addressed to the European Commission during a debate with the Director General for regional and urban policy, Themis Christophidou.

Ms Christophidou presented the recently published 9^thCohesion Report to COTER's members. It was the first time that the EU Commission presented the report publicly.

The European elections that will take place in two months "are not just a formality. Europe as we know it is not forever, and we cannot take everything for granted. So far, Cohesion Policy acted as a glue that kept Europe together. As we stand at the crossroads of history, the need for a strong Cohesion Policy has never been so urgent," underlined the COTER's Chair and Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc (RO/EPP).

Following on from the co-rapporteurship on the future of Cohesion Policy, the President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Vasco Alves Cordeiro (PT/PES) and the Chair of the COTER Commission, Emil Boc, will join forces to lead the work of the Committee on the 9^th Cohesion Report. The newly appointed co-rapporteurs will assess needs and concerns about EU regional policy for the incoming decade, in light of the new EU Commission's report and the conclusionsof the group of High-levelspecialistson the future of Cohesion Policy. The Cordeiro-Boc opinion is scheduled for adoption at the CoR plenary session in November.

President Cordeiro and COTER's Chair Boc will bring the voice of regions and cities at the 9^thCohesion Forum, organised by the European Commission later this week, which will bring in Brussels around 1 000 representatives of institutions at all levels, stakeholders, social partners and academia to reflect on the future challenges for Cohesion Policy.

Next week, the CoR's plenary will also adopt an urgent resolution that will bring a first reaction to the findings of the 9^th Cohesion Report and the conclusions of the group of High-level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy ahead of the European elections.

The future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) post 2027

COTER members held a first debate on the future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) after 2027. They underlined the vital role of collaboration between regions and cities in driving economic and social development while overcoming obstacles across EU borders. They also highlighted the need for increased ETC funding in light of events like the COVID-19 pandemic and further emphasized the importance of focusing on territorial cooperation along external borders to facilitate future integration processes.

Karsten Uno Petersen (DK/PES), Member of the Regional Council of Southern Denmark, is the CoR rapporteur drafting the opinion, which is scheduled to be adopted in September by the CoR plenary.

Creation of a common European mobility data space

Members of the COTER commission also held a first discussion on the draft opinion on European mobility data space (EMDS), prepared by Zdeněk Hřib (CZ/Greens), First Deputy Mayor of Prague. They highlighted that regions and cities face inevitable shifts towards autonomous mobility, integrated transport modes, and digital innovations like 'smart cities'. To support these advancements, substantial investments in technologies such as 5G connectivity are crucial, though they pose challenges for rural and sparsely populated areas. The opinion is scheduled to be adopted during the October CoR plenary session.

A just transition for all EU regions

COTER members held a first debate related to the draft opinion on ajust transition for all EU regions (rapporteur Marco Marsilio - IT/ECR-, President of the Abruzzo Region). In the discussion members stressed that regions and cities require targeted and place-based plans and support to navigate the diverse challenges posed by the shift towards climate neutrality. They highlighted the importance of collaboration at all levels of government as well as with other important stakeholders such as industry, particularly in energy-intensive sectors, to effectively address socio-economic impacts and ensure a fair transition for all. The opinion is scheduled to be adopted during the October CoR plenary session.

Also during the meeting

Upon request of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the meeting hosted a debate on the role of cities and their challenges in the environmental, economic, social and territorial transitions.

Furthermore, COTER members indicated Pavel Branda (CZ/ECR), Deputy Mayor of Rádlo, as rapporteur on the opinion on "Solving obstacles to the cooperation of emergency services in the EU's border regions" and Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis (FR/EA), President of the Corsican Assembly, as rapporteur on the opinion "EU budget and place-based policies: proposals for new design and delivery mechanisms in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework post-2027".

More information:

• During the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, held on 18 and 19 March in Mons (Belgium), the CoR, together with the founding partners of the EU-wide coalition #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 in the next decade. The call states the principles on which the future EU regional policy should be based in order to remain a fundamental pillar of the EU development model and the core long-term, decentralised investment policy of the future EU budget. To sign the joint call, use this link.
• In November 2023, the CoR adopted by unanimity an opinion on the future of Cohesion Policy after 2027. President Cordeiro and COTER Chair Boc were the co-rapporteurs of the text. Their work as co-rapporteurs will now go on drafting of the new opinion focused on the 9^th Cohesion Report and the conclusions of the Group of High-Level specialists on the future of Cohesion Policy, published earlier this year.
• A just and fair transition towards decarbonising the transport sector is the primary concern of the Automotive Regions Alliance, a political network of regions committed to the successful transition of the European automotive and supply industry. The Alliance is an initiative of the CoR that recognises the need for decisive action to achieve the EU's climate targets and aims to bring together regions with a strong automotive sector that want to play an active role in decarbonising the transport sector while strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.