Future EU budget: local leaders and leading MEPs united in urging EU prime ministers to secure strong Cohesion Policy

During a plenary debate with the European Parliament's co-rapporteur on the future EU long-term budget, Siegfried Mureşan, local and regional leaders reiterated their opposition to the proposal put forward by the European Commission. They warned that a weakened Cohesion Policy, merged with agricultural policy into a single fund, could lead to growing territorial disparities and increase the gap between citizens and the European Union.

The plenary debate took place on 11 December, shortly after members of the European Parliament's committee on Budgets held a first debate on the interim report on the long-term EU budget 2028-34, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), co-drafted by Mr. Mureşan (RO/EPP) together with Carla Tavares (PT/S&D). The report is now open for amendments and is scheduled for final adoption by Parliament in May 2026. Once adopted, the text will detail the co-rapporteurs' mandate to negotiate the MFF regulation with the other EU institutions: the European Commission and the Council of the EU.

The plenary exchange of views also took place a few days before the European Council meeting of 18-19 December, during which EU heads of state and governments will discuss the next MFF and potentially reach a preliminary agreement on its main architecture, including the creation of a single fund merging cohesion and agricultural policies.

Members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) were vocal in opposing the possibility as it would create competition between local authorities and farmers for available resources, and could potentially exclude some territories from benefitting from cohesion funds, thus increasing economic and social disparities within the EU.

Mr Mureşan underlined that the European Parliament and the CoR are aligned in opposing the proposal put forward by the European Commission, and in advocating for a future-oriented and modern Cohesion Policy that cannot be used as a "menù à la carte" but should instead finance long-term and predictable investments in every region of Europe.

Quotes

CoR President Kata Tüttő (HU/PES): "The Committee is working side by side with the European Parliament to ensure that Cohesion Policy remains a strong European policy, helps the transition of all our regions and is managed together with regional and local leaders. This is crucial to make our Single Market work and make Europe more competitive."

CoR First Vice President Juanma Moreno (ES/EPP): "European Commission's President letter from last November acknowledges some of our demands. We welcome aspects that have been introduced, such as the rural objective and the funds allocated to fisheries. However, this is not enough to guarantee European cohesion. Furthermore, some of the proposals have not been clearly defined. We call on the European Council and all institutions to support the demands of the Committee of the Region."

Background

• Videos and photos from the debate.

• On 2 December, the CoR commission for territorial cohesion and EU budget adopted the draft opinion on the next MFF prepared by Sari Rautio (FI/EPP), city councillor of Hämeenlinna. The text is scheduled to be adopted during the CoR plenary session of 4-5 March 2026. The Committee is working also on other 19 opinions that will assess specific aspects and regulations of the future EU long-term budget.

Contact
Matteo Miglietta 
Tel. +32 470895382   
[email protected]