Cohesion Policy post 2027: linking investments and reforms must not lead to a more centralised governance

Europe should count on a stronger and renewed Cohesion Policy to be fit for the future. With an opinion adopted by unanimity at the plenary session on 14 May, local and regional leaders outlined how Cohesion Policy should be modernised after 2027 to achieve reforms which are linked to territorial competencies and needs. They demanded to reform the European Semester with a multiannual territorial approach and stressed that Cohesion Policy must continue to have regions at its heart. 

Members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) are very concerned about a proposal put forward by the European Commission that each Member State should have a single national plan linking key reforms to EU investments. They underlined that it is essential to keep regional programmes as main instruments to deliver Cohesion Policy funds, since the local approach is best suited to identifying challenges and needs specific to each region. The message is included in an opinion drafted by Isabelle Boudineau (FR/PES), member of the Council of the French Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine, at the request of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The text was adopted at the CoR plenary after an exchange with Jacek Protas (PL/EPP), Member of the Committee on Regional Development of the European Parliament and rapporteur of the recently adopted resolution on the 9th Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion. A representative of the Polish Presidency took part in the debate.

Next week Ms Boudineau will be in Wasaw - together with CoR President Kata Tüttő - to attend an informal meeting of European ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy, where she will present the content of the adopted opinion.  

Cohesion Policy as a key driver for achieving EU objectives and reforms 

Local and regional leaders called for a modernised European Semester, that could serve as comprehensive framework to guide the effective programming and implementation of Cohesion Policy while encouraging reforms. Although the link between Cohesion Policy and the European Semester was strengthened for the 2021-27 period, they argued that the two instruments are still not sufficiently aligned: the European Semester is an annual policy cycle based on dialogue between the Commission and national governments, while Cohesion Policy is based on multiannual programming and multi-level governance.  

The Committe therefore proposed that the European Semester should be part of a multiannual strategic approach, with local and regional authorities involved - rather than merely consulted - in the drafting of the country reports and country-specific recommendations. This could make it possible to include in regional programmes specific targets and milestones for governance reforms linked, for example, to administrative capacity or the dvelopment of sub-national statistics. 

Regarding the possible introduction of a system of results-based payment - as used in the Recovery and Resilience Facility - rather than one based on cost reimbursement, local and regional authorities acknowledged the potential benefits of such a system in terms of simplification. However, they also expressed concerns noting that a stronger focus on results would require better data collection. 

Quote 

Isabelle Boudineau (FR/PES), Member of the Council of the French Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine: “Cohesion Policy is a key driver for the transformation of our regions. The subsidiarity and partnership principles on which it is based give Europe's regions the opportunity to implement the European Union's priorities by adapting them to specific territorial characteristics. This policy must continue to be developed, managed and implemented at regional level, otherwise the European project itself will be threatened.”  

Background 

• Video and photos from the plenary session. 

• On 15 May, the CoR plenary will vote on two urgent resolutions on the next long-term budget of the European Union and the Mid-term review of Cohesion Policy programmes 2021-27. Press releases will be published in the dedicated section of the CoR website.  

• During the plenary session on 20-21 November 2024, the CoR adopted a package of opinions defining the building blocks of Cohesion Policy after 2027. Press release. 

• Cohesion Policy worth nearly € 370 billion of EU funds in the current programming period 2021-2027, or one third of the EU long-term budget. 

Contact 

Matteo Miglietta 
Tel. +32 470895382 
Matteo.Miglietta@cor.europa.eu