Capital Cities and Regions Network
CCRN
The Capital Cities Regions Network (CCRN) is the informal network of the capital cities and regions of the European Union's (EU) and the European Economic Area’s (EEA) Member States (MS).
ID: 217920314118-59
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – implementing EU funding with Member States and regions
24 Oct 2025
Following the Commissions proposals for the next MFF, the underlisted Capital Cities and Regions (CCRs) wish to react to the draft NRP Regulation by requesting: 1/ a budgetary envelope dedicated to cohesion policy in the MFF 2028-2034 for all regions, including for the most developed regions so as not to undermine goals already achieved given the growing challenges. As emphasised in the CCRN preliminary position on the EU cohesion policy post-2027 and reaction to the 9th Cohesion Report, European funding brings real added value to CCRs. Indeed, their dynamism is accompanied by greater vulnerability to economic shocks, and they continue to face many challenges (social disparities, lack of affordable housing, insufficient healthcare provision, mobility and environmental pressures, climate change impacts, inclusion of migrants, etc.), for which the support of the ERDF and the ESF+ is a real asset. The regional GDP per capita indicator masks significant sub-regional disparities and the many challenges facing Europe cannot be addressed without the mobilisation of our cities and regions which are home to a very large proportion of the EU's population and are often the first to respond to supra-regional concerns. 2/ regulatory guarantees to ensure that Capital Cities & Regions continue to benefit from ERDF and ESF+ after 2027. CCRs eligibility for ERDF funding must be guaranteed after 2027 and it should be possible to apply the performance indicators (outputs and results) associated with the areas of intervention of the ERDF and the ESF+ (as set out in Annex I of the draft performance regulation) at sub-national level to enable the financing of regional and local projects. We welcome the proposal to allocate at least 14% of the total budget of the "European Fund for Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Prosperity and Security to achieving the EU's social objectives. However, we fear that the dilution of the ESF+ within the NRP plans will drastically reduce our capacity for action in the areas of employment and social inclusion and limit the ability of European funding to reach local actors who need it most, thereby compromising the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. 3/ that European funding for regional and local including socio-economic - actors in CCRs must not depend exclusively on decisions taken at national level. Beyond the total lack of visibility on the budgetary envelopes available for CCRs after 2027, the proposals on the NRPPs jeopardise the implementation of European funding at the level closest to the needs of our constituents. The proposed method for the implementation of NRPPs at the discretion of central governments risks marginalising our local and regional authorities in strengthening the EU's economic competitiveness and social cohesion. With regard to planning, negotiation and implementation of programmes, CCRs are calling for the possibility to have their own legally and financially secure responsibility. 4/ that European regulations explicitly stipulate that future national and regional partnership plans for investment and reform be designed and implemented with sub-national authorities. The planned link between European funding for 2028-2034 and structural reforms will only be viable if the targeted reforms are directly relevant to addressing territorial challenges. It is equally essential that the negotiation (between the Commission and Member States) of the targets and milestones to be achieved is conducted in full compliance with the principle of partnership with local and regional authorities. City of Amsterdam / Berlin / Budapest / Bratislava Region / Ireland-Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly / Helsinki-Uusimaa Region / Île-de-France Region / Comunidad de Madrid / Mazovia / City of Prague / Riga / Region Stockholm.
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