More than 140 European regions made their voices heard at the European Parliament on Wednesday 5 November in Brussels, denouncing the negative effects of the European Commission’s proposals for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.
At an event organised by the EUregions4cohesion coalition - co-sponsored by the regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Emilia-Romagna - 25 regional presidents and ministers and 25 MEPs called on the Commission to thoroughly review its proposals for the next MFF and post-2027 cohesion policy (see EUROPE 13746/23).
Alain Rousset, President of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, warned: “The risk of renationalisation of funds calls into question the very existence of Europe. If Europe is nothing more than a cash drawer for the Member States, what is Europe’s role?”
Davide Baruffi, representing Emilia-Romagna, stressed that defending cohesion meant defending the foundations of the European house.
MEP Younous Omarjee (The Left, French) declared that “the assembly cannot accept a budget in which the regions are relegated to second place”.
Several members of the European Parliament’s regional development and budget committees also stressed the importance of maintaining traditional policies (cohesion and agriculture) at the heart of European integration. They said that cohesion policy should not be placed in competition with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Launched in 2024, the EUregions4cohesion coalition, which has presented a Joint Position Paper (https://aeur.eu/f/jb5 ), brings together regions from 18 Member States. It calls for cohesion policy to remain a central priority for the European Union after 2027. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)