22/04/2026 (Agence Europe) – The European Committee of the Regions’ (CoR) ENVE Commission adopted its draft opinion on the EU’s next long-term budget on Wednesday 22 April, in the presence of the President of the European Parliament’s ENVI Commission. The two institutions share the same concerns about the centralisation of European funds in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, underlining the key role of cities and regions in the green transition. The CoR welcomes the 43% target for spending on climate and the environment in the national and regional partnership plans and the European Competitiveness Fund. However, its members stressed the difficulty of achieving this target without a clear division of responsibilities between the different levels of government. Finally, the two institutions deplore the absence of a programme dedicated to the environment and biodiversity, following the example of LIFE in the current programming of European funds. Consult the draft opinion: https://aeur.eu/f/lnb (JV)