In a recent but undated short working document (non-paper), fourteen EU countries considered to be ‘friends of cohesion’ have called for the continuation of a “distinct and robust” budget for cohesion policy in the post-2027 period and a methodology for allocating funds based on regions “reflecting the different development levels of regions”.
This group, comprised of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia, also wants the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, whose proposals are expected on 16 July, to retain specific legislation dedicated to cohesion policy.
According to these countries, these conditions are essential if the 2028-2034 MFF is to guarantee “long-term unity, competitiveness and convergence across EU regions”.
They also point out that President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has stated that cohesion policy will occupy a “central place” in the next budget.
Finally, these countries highlight the messages contained in the working document (non-paper) of last February, entitled ‘A Strong Cohesion Policy for Growth, Convergence and Competitiveness’, signed by 16 delegations.
On 28 March, these ‘friends of cohesion’ countries asked the European Commission to ensure that the cohesion policy budget for this period is “at least equal to the current level in real terms” in order to further reduce regional disparities (see EUROPE 13607/3).
Link to the short working document: https://aeur.eu/f/hnr
Link to the one presented in March: https://aeur.eu/f/hns (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)