More specifically, the on-going debate hints at the potential adoption of a more centralised and sectoral approach to the policy. This tendency raises concerns about such an approach going against the two fundamental principles of Cohesion Policy: its multi-governance governance framework and its place-based nature.
In this context, EURADA, in partnership with Prognos AG, organised the in-person event A more centralised and sectoral post-27 cohesion policy? Implications for regional developmenton 17 March 2025. The event welcomed Cohesion Policy experts (Prof. Ugo Fratesi – Politecnico di Milano; Eulalia Rubio – CEPS/Institute Jacques Delors; Jan-Philipp Kramer – Prognos AG; Janne Uusivirta – Permanent representation of Finland to the EU) as well as representatives from EU Institutions (Anna Wagner – European Commission; Rachel Lancry – Committee of the Regions) and Regional Development Agencies (Theo Föllings – Oost Netherlands; Daniel Janeiro – Alentejo Regional Development Agency), who discussed the future of Cohesion Policy in a Roundtable Discussion divided into two panels.
In his opening presentation, Professor Ugo Fratesi (Politecnico di Milano) emphasised the importance of carefully navigating challenges and trade-offs in Cohesion Policy, operating a balance between enhancing EU competitiveness and continuing to address the ever-present disparities and inequalities and the differentiated impact of global challenges across regions.
In the Round Table discussion, both panels of speakers discussed the following topics:
On the one hand, in the midst of current negotiations of the next MFF, the emerging challenges and new priorities set at EU level are putting an increasing amount of pressure on the EU budget. Addressing these new priorities will undoubtedly require the mobilisation of more funding, which could be achieved either through the re-purposing of Cohesion Policy funds to the detriment of their intended purpose, or through the creation of new funding instruments.
In this context, speakers highlighted the increasing need to strike a balance between catering to these emerging priorities through the adoption of a more centralised approach and still upholding the fundamental principles of EU Cohesion Policy.
Additionally, the increased level of fragmentation and overlap in policy implementation calls for the adoption of more of a strategic approach, with an appropriate degree of centralisation and directionality, that will contribute to aligning funds with specific strategic priorities, achieving greater efficiency. Such an approach would only be possible through the creation of a more stable and over-arching implementation framework, as well as the adoption of a long-term approach to regional development.
In this regard, Theo Föllings, EURADA President and Oost Netherlands representative, stressed that competitiveness and regional cohesion can not only coexist but complement each other. For this purpose, he emphasised the need to adopt a long-term approach to regional development, coupled with solid implementation strategies and an increased attention to local perspectives.
Moreover, Daniel Janeiro, EURADA Vice President and Alentejo Regional Development Agency (‘ADRAL’) representative, stated that many regional development agencies still feel excluded from the decision-making processes and stressed the importance of taking regional perspectives into account when it comes to policy implementation.
Finally, Francesco Molica, EURADA Director, concluded the event on a positive note, stressing that there is still time to shape the future of Cohesion Policy, to make sure that it remains tailored to local and regional needs with strong involvement for regional actors.
For your convenience, please find enclosed Professor Ugo Fratesi’s PowerPoint presentation, as well as the photographs and minutes taken during the event.
