The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has adopted an opinion on the European Commission’s mid-term review of cohesion policy 2021-2027. In a debate with Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, the EESC stressed that, while the EU must adapt to new priorities, cohesion policy must continue to focus on reducing regional inequalities.

Cohesion policy, the EU’s main tool for promoting economic, social and territorial unity, is being reassessed to address major changes across Europe.

‘Cohesion policy has been vital in responding to both long-term structural challenges and urgent crises’, said EESC President Oliver Röpke, ‘but as we adapt to new priorities, we must keep its core mission at the forefront: supporting the most vulnerable regions and reducing inequalities. This is not just a question of solidarity, but of strengthening the Union’s long-term social and economic fabric’.

‘With the proposal on the mid-term review package, we are giving Member States and regions the opportunity to invest in new, specific areas – a voluntary choice that introduces flexibility without compromising the core principles of cohesion policy’, added Commission Vice-President Fitto.

The EESC supports aligning cohesion policy with new priorities – such as competitiveness, defence, housing, energy and water resilience – but insists these should enhance, not replace, the focus on solidarity.

A key concern is how to finance these ambitions. ‘Without a reformed and reliable funding model, the Union could find itself ill-equipped to respond to future crises or to invest adequately in long-term priorities’, explained EESC rapporteur David Sventek.

The EESC recommends:

• keeping cohesion’s core mission of reducing inequalities
• using a balanced mix of grants and financial tools
• ensuring fair access to funding, especially for disadvantaged regions
• coordinating the review with the EU’s overall budget
• reforming the funding system to make it more stable
• prioritising climate, digitalisation and infrastructure investment

As the EU looks beyond 2027, the EESC calls for a fair, flexible and future-ready cohesion policy for all regions. (tk)