The Socialists and Democrats are convinced regions have to remain at the heart of cohesion policy and its management as as each possesses unique national, linguistic, and cultural characteristics. 

The S&D Group believes it would be counterproductive if the Commission centralises management of cohesion policies in the hands of national governments. The Socialists and Democrats stated this in the plenary of the European Parliament during a debate on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures’. This happens days before the announcement by the European Commission of the next Multiannual Financial Framework-post 2027 and in the context of a letter sent to President von der Leyen(opens in a new tab) with the S&D Group’s expectations in this regard. 

Marcos Ros Sempere, S&D coordinator on the issues of regional development, said: 

“We, the Socialists and Democrats, are at the forefront in the battle for European regions. Time and again we say to the other political families and to the European Commission - Europe needs a robust cohesion policy! Without it, there can be no social, territorial and economic convergence across all European regions. Now is the time to discuss what cohesion policy should look like after the expiration of the current 2021-2027 period. Our group has already engaged in a meaningful debate with civil society, regional and local authorities, national governments and EU institutions with our position paper ‘Cohesion Policy post-2027: a resilient future for European territorial equity’(opens in a new tab). 

“Cohesion policy has to deliver on the new challenges facing our societies while keeping its core purpose – fostering employment, public services and competitiveness. It needs new criteria on board – poverty and social exclusion, the sectoral structure of a regional economy, health, and access to affordable and decent housing. The S&D Group is grateful for the European Citizens’ Initiative that gives us the opportunity during this plenary session to reiterate the importance of a strong cohesion policy in the hands of regional authorities and local communities days before the proposal by the Commission of the next Multiannual Financial Framework-post 2027.”