MEPs and regional leaders urge changes to plans to merge cohesion and agriculture

At a joint meeting, members of the Committee of the Regions’ COTER Commission and the Parliament’s REGI Committee raised concerns about Commission proposals for future cohesion funding.

Vasco Cordeiro (PT/PES), Chair of the CoR Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER), said: "Regions and cities cannot be seen as the expendable ones. We are in favour of a strong cohesion policy and we are ready to do our part to shape a reform that is fit for regions and cities. Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy run side by side for the future of Europe. We need political commitment from national governments that both policies will be treated with the same importance and rules."

Dragoş Benea (RO/S&D), Chair of the EP Committee on Regional Development (REGI) said: “The proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) model would radically change the organisation of cohesion policy funds. I have concerns about this model, and today’s meeting confirms they are widely shared among European citizens, regions and cities. We fear that merging various funds would lead to centralisation and competition between farmers and regions, and between regions and national governments.

“Our priority is ensuring an inclusive, trust-based governance model. We should therefore stay united in opposing this proposed new structure. The REGI Committee will defend a strong cohesion policy committed to partnerships and local decision-making.”

In his keynote speech, European Commission Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto said dedicated strategies will be presented in the coming months on priority areas, namely cities and urban areas, Eastern border regions, outermost regions, and islands and coastal communities. Faced with questions from REGI and COTER members, Executive Vice-President Fitto emphasised the regional aspect of the national and regional plans model and stated that cohesion policy funding would stay under shared management and marked by a place-based approach. Moreover, he showed openness to dialogue on improving the current proposals in the legislative process to guarantee the future prospects of cohesion policy.

Members of COTER and REGI expressed their concerns about nationalising cohesion policy, with regions side-lined from the design and management of territorial investments without clear allocations for specific categories, from less to more developed regions. Members highlighted the need for a well-funded cohesion policy that would not trigger competition between, for example, mayors and farmers, as a result of the merging of regional and agriculture resources.

In recent days and weeks, regional and local representatives have expressed serious worries about proposals for the NRPPs. Members argued regional and local decision-makers need predictability and legal certainty to plan their investment strategies. They also raised concerns about the absence of guarantees in the proposed legislation with regard to local and regional authorities' formal involvement in the management and delivery of cohesion policy. Members also were disappointed that the narrative provided by the European Commission on the package differed significantly from the legal proposal. COTER and REGI members expressed their will to work closely together in the coming months on the proposed cohesion policy reform post 2027.