Eastern border regions require specific measures as strategic assets for European security and cohesion

As air-raid sirens sound across countries bordering Ukraine, and coinciding with the latest Russian attacks near the Polish border, regions and cities representatives gathered in Cáceres, Spain to discuss the situation of the regions sharing a border with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. 

Members of the Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) met in Cáceres (Spain) on 17 September for their annual external meeting, following an invitation of the President of the Region of Extremadura María Guardiola Martin (ES/EPP). They adopted opinions on the EU's Eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, which are suffering the consequences of the ongoing war, the EU Ports Strategy, and debated on the Outermost Regions Packagepublished last week by the European Commission, as well as the Strategy for Islands and 'The Right to Stay'.

As the negotiations on the EU budget 2028-34 reach a decisive point, Vasco Alves Cordeiro  (PT/PES), Chair of the COTER Commission, and the President of Extremadura, María GuardiolaMartin, underlined the need to keep strengthening territorial cohesion as one of the pillars of the European project. Mr. Alves Cordeiro stressed the CoR´s strong position on the negative consequences that weakening Cohesion Policy would have on local and regional authorities. Ms. Guardiola pointed out that it is essential for Europe to continue relying on regions as indispensable partners in achieving common goals.

Security funding must be stable and long-term

The adopted draft opinion on the eastern border regions frames support for these regions not only as European solidarity, but also as a strategic investment in the EU's security and cohesion. New security-related funding needs to be "additional, stable and long-term," rather than drawn from a reallocation of existing cohesion resources. COTER also proposes defining the eastern border regions by their geopolitical exposure rather than by borders alone, and calls for regions and local authorities to be treated as "fully fledged partners".

Rapporteur Adam Struzik (PL/EPP) Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, said: "In preparing this opinion, we were united by the conviction that the EU's eastern regions require special attention and place-based support. We also agree that the real impact of the current geopolitical situation does not stop at administrative borders. Its economic, social and security consequences extend far beyond them. At the same time, each of our regions experiences these challenges in a different way and has its own legitimate needs. That is why it is so important to look beyond the perspective of our own territories and work together to find solutions that serve our common security. This is not only about the interests of regions located in the eastern part of the European Union. It is about the security of Europe as a whole."

Ports are drivers for regional development

In the draft opinion on the EU Ports Strategy, drawn up by rapporteur Keven Cauchi (MT/EPP), Mayor of Għajnsielem, local leaders call for ports to be recognised as strategic drivers of regional development and not just transport infrastructure. COTER members stressed the vital role portsplay in connectivity, territorial cohesion, competitiveness, security, the green transition and regional resilience. This is particularly the case for islands, outermost, coastal, inland, rural and peripheral regions. Furthermore, they called for the full involvement of local and regional authorities in the governance and implementation of the EU Ports Strategy, and for continued support for port development through a strong Cohesion Policy.

The opinions, on EU eastern border regions and on the EU Ports Strategy, are scheduled for final adoption during the CoR plenary session on 2 and 3 December.

Outermost regions, islands, housing and competitiveness

Members also discussed draft opinions on the recently published Outermost Regions Package, prepared by Thibault Lechat-Vega (FR/PES), Vice-President of the French outermost region of Guyana, and on the EU strategy for islands, drafted by Noel Formosa (MT/EPP), Mayor of San Lawrenz, and held a debate on 'The Right to Stay', an issue of particular relevance for regions and cities.

Andres Jaadla (EE/Renew), member of Rakvere City Council, was appointed rapporteur for the opinion on the Affordable Housing Act, and Arianna Censi (IT/PES), Councillor for Mobility of the City of Milan, as rapporteur on Autonomous Driving.

On 18 September, the conference on 'Cohesion Policy 2028-2034 and European territorial cooperation as drivers of competitiveness and leverage of European added value', organised alongside the COTER external meeting, looked at the added value of Cohesion Policy for place-based territorial development from a local and regional perspective, as well as at the future of the INTERREG programmes.

Background

• Video and photos of the meeting.

• On 18 February, the European Commission presented a plan to make the European regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine safer, more resilient and more attractive places to live and work.

• On 4 March, the European Commission adopted the EU Ports Strategy, a comprehensive framework to step up the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports.

Contact

Víctor Moreno Morales de Setién
Tel: +32 475999662
victor.morenomoralesdesetien@cor.europa.eu