Leading European networks representing some two thousand cities and regions across Europe (the Local Alliance) welcome the European Parliament’s draft report on the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) within the next EU budget for 2028-2034. The joint report from the REGI, BUDG and AGRI Committees marks an important step in shaping a future EU budget that is both effective and responsive to territorial realities.
The Local Alliance particularly welcomes the Committee’s push to strengthen the role of regional and local authorities in the design and implementation of EU funding instruments, reinforcing partnership principles, and multilevel governance.
The report also highlights the importance of territorial innovation and transition plans such as Territorial Just Transition Plans and Smart Specialisation Strategies and calls for dedicated funding for all regions and for sustainable urban development in a bid to safeguard cohesion policy principles and preserve place-based approaches.
The European Parliament’s proposed improvements respond to growing concerns over the possible dilution of cohesion policy objectives, the marginalisation of regions and cities in delivering EU priorities and the risk of weaker transparency and accountability in the allocation of EU funds.
For the next steps of the negotiations, we call on the co-legislators to follow the European Parliament’s clear positioning and ensure that the future EU budget:
- Preserves a strong and adequately funded cohesion policy as a cornerstone of European integration and solidarity;
- Guarantees meaningful involvement of local and regional authorities through robust multilevel governance and partnership principles;
- Maintains a clear territorial dimension, ensuring that policies are tailored to the diverse needs and capacities of Europe’s regions;
- Ensures transparency, accountability, and accessibility in the design and implementation of NRPPs.
The Local Alliance also welcomes the draft report’s recognition of local climate and energy planning, notably through references to the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans developed under the EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. This recognition acknowledges the central role cities and regions already play in turning EU climate and energy goals into concrete investment priorities – a message recently conveyed by Covenant of Mayors Board Members to the report’s co-rapporteurs.
“Europe is at a crucial stage of the MFF negotiations. This is not just a budget discussion, but a governance reform,” states Mathias De Clercq, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Ghent. “We support the simplification proposed through the National and Regional Partnership Plans, but this must not lead to centralisation or disconnect decision-making from local delivery. Cities and regions are where EU priorities become reality, from climate and innovation to housing, mobility and social inclusion. Moreover, cities are important catalysts for the competitiveness of regions and countries.
“As mayors of major cities, we welcome the European Parliament’s recognition that the next seven-year EU budget will only deliver if local governments are fully involved in designing national plans. Cities need dedicated urban funding, a strong partnership principle and real access to competitiveness and innovation funding.”
As the legislative process on the EU budget moves forward, the Local Alliance remains committed to engaging constructively with co-legislators to ensure the new framework strengthens, rather than undermines, Europe’s territorial cohesion and democratic governance.
- The Local Alliance represents the eight leading networks of European local and regional governments, Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+), The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, Eurocities; FEDARENE; ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and POLIS, working together to ensure the next EU budget 2028- 2034 delivers for people by empowering local and regional governments in delivering the transition on the ground.
- Eurocities wants to make cities places where everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, is able to move around safely, access quality and inclusive public services and benefit from a healthy environment. We do this by networking more than 200 larger European cities, which together represent some 150 million people across 38 countries, and by gathering evidence of how policy making impacts on people to inspire other cities and EU decision makers.
