Shaping the future of EU Cohesion Policy: CEMR’s amendments on the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans
The EU’s place-based approach to policymaking — which recognises territorial diversity and builds on the role of local and regional governments — is under critical pressure. The European Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework risks weakening this approach by centralising investment decisions and blurring the distinct objectives of EU policies with very different territorial logics.
CEMR has therefore developed targeted amendment proposals to the regulation establishing the National and Regional Partnership Plans. These proposals aim to preserve place-based policymaking across EU investments, strengthen democratic and territorial governance, and ensure that policies designed in Brussels and capitals continue to deliver concrete, long-term benefits in cities, towns and regions.
The main messages driving CEMR amendments:
1. Safeguarding cohesion as a core EU priority
CEMR calls for a stronger budgetary commitment to economic, social and territorial cohesion. Reducing the relative weight of cohesion policy — while expanding access to funds to all private actors — risks undermining public services, increasing competition for limited resources, and weakening Europe’s capacity to deliver resilient territories and communities.
2. Putting territories and people back at the centre
Cohesion policy must work across all regions and respond to territorial diversity. Our amendments reinforce the territorial dimension of EU investments, ensuring that no region or community is left behind and that the objectives of the EU Treaties are fully respected.
3. Making partnership and multilevel governance real
While the Commission proposal refers to partnership and multilevel governance, it lacks strong guarantees. CEMR proposes clear obligations, monitoring mechanisms and consequences to ensure that local and regional governments are genuinely involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of national plans — not merely consulted in name.
4. Preventing over-centralisation of EU investments
Recent experiences with the Recovery and Resilience Facility and other national plans have shown the risks of centralised approaches. CEMR therefore calls for mandatory regional and territorial chapters in national plans, ensuring place-based strategies and meaningful involvement of subnational governments throughout the programming period.
5. Strengthening integrated territorial development
Integrated territorial approaches — in urban and non-urban areas — bring Europe closer to citizens and have proven their value on the ground. CEMR proposes a minimum 30% earmarking of national allocations for integrated territorial development, supported by higher EU co-financing and increased pre-financing to enable local authorities to participate fully.
6. Supporting rural areas, cities and functional territories
Our amendments reinforce support for rural development, sustainable urban development, urban-rural linkages and functional areas. These approaches are essential to tackling demographic change, climate challenges and social inequalities in a coherent and coordinated way.
A call for a stronger, fairer cohesion policy
CEMR’s amendment proposals are guided by a clear conviction: Europe’s resilience, prosperity and democratic strength depend on strong local and regional governments and on cohesion policy that is ambitious, inclusive and place-based.
We call on the European Parliament and Member States to take these proposals seriously and ensure that the future EU cohesion policy delivers for all territories and all citizens.
👇 We invite you to consult the full set of CEMR amendment proposals for a detailed overview of our recommendations and legal changes to the Commission’s proposal.
For more information, please contact:
Advisor – Territorial Cohesion & Local Finances
