What changed

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

P10_TA(2025)0098

on the ninthNinth report on economic and social cohesion

(2024/2107(INI))

Committee on Regional Development

PE766.926

European Parliament resolution of 8 May 2025 on the ninth report on economic and social cohesion (2024/2107(INI))

– having regard to Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union,

– having regard to the study entitled ‘Streamlining EU Cohesion Funds: addressing administrative burdens and redundancy’, published by its Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union in November 2024,

– having regard to Regulation (EU)a 2025/XXXXRegulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of [INSERT7 DATE]May 2025 on the Border Regions’ Instrument for Development and Growth in the EU (BRIDGEforEU) [INSERT FOOTNOTE ONCE PUBLISHED IN OJ],(BRIDGEforEU),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 3 May 2022 entitled ‘Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions’ (COM(2022)0198),

– having regard to the opinion in the form of a letter from the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (XXX),Development,

– having regard to its resolution of 25 March 2021 on cohesion policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2022 on economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU: the 8th Cohesion Report,

– having regard to its resolution of 2021 OctoberNovember 2023 on possibilities to increase the reliability of audits and controls by national authorities in shared management,

– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on harnessing talent in Europe’s regions,

A. whereas cohesion policy is at the heart of EU policies and is the EU’s main tool for investments in sustainable economic, social and territorial development, and contributing to the Green Deal objectives, across the EU under its multiannual financial frameworks for the periods of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027; whereas cohesion policy, as mandated by the Treaties, is fundamental for a well-functioning and thriving internal market by promoting the development of all regions in the EU, and especially the less developed ones;

B. whereas cohesion policy has fostered economic, social and territorial convergence in the EU, notably by increasing the gross domestic products, for example, of central and eastern EU Member States, which went from 43 % of the EU average in 1995 to around 80 % in 2023; whereas the 9th Cohesion Report highlights that, by the end of 2022, cohesion policy supported over 4.44,4 million businesses, creating more than 370 000 jobs in these companies; whereas it also underlines that cohesion policy generates a significant return on investment, and that each euro invested in the 2014–2020 and 2021–2027 programmes will have generated 1.31,3 euros of additional GDP in the Union by 2030; whereas cohesion policy constituted, on average, around 13 % of total public investment in the EU;

C. whereas the Commission report entitled ‘The long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward’, presented alongside the ninth Cohesion Report, underlines that EUR 24.624,6 billion, or 8 % of the rural development pillar of the common agricultural policy, is directed towards investments in rural areas beyond farming investments, setting the scene for a debate on the future of rural areas;

D. whereas between 2021 and 2027, cohesion policy will have invested over EUR 140 billion in the green and digital transitions, to help improve networks and infrastructure, support nature conservation, improve green and digital skills and foster job creation and services for the public;

27. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions and the national and regional parliaments of the Member States.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The Commission published the Ninth Cohesion Report on 27th March 2024, it is therefore the last one before the publication of the Commission proposals for a renewed regulatory framework for the cohesion policy post-2027, expected in 2025. In this context, the rapporteur finds it is particularly important to draw conclusions from the Ninth Cohesion Report’s findings on the progress of the economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU, against the background of developments and challenges it has been facing over the last years, and those it will likely need to face in the future.

The conclusions of the Ninth Cohesion Report confirm that the EU cohesion policy has a positive and significant impact in terms of convergence. It reduces the disparities among EU Member States and regions not only in terms of GDP level, but also in terms of reduction of unemployment and increase of productivity, it stimulates long-term growth and competitiveness, and it plays a key role in supporting public investment. Cohesion policy’s impact in the longer perspective proves its value as an important long-term investment tool.

Moreover, the Ninth Cohesion Report concludes, that the core principles, namely the bottom-up approach, multi-level governance, and partnership principle are of key importance. The Rapporteur is convinced, that these principles largely determine the policy’s effectiveness, and must be further enhanced. For that reason, it would be a mistake to apply to the cohesion policy a par excellence centralised model, like the one behind the RRF.

Cohesion policy has been a key part of the EU response to numerous crises over the past years. It proved to be a flexible and effective tool, adaptable to unexpected challenges, such as the coronavirus pandemic, or the multidimensional impact of Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In the future, EU is likely to be confronted with further such challenges, coupled with the impact of natural disasters due to climate change. The Rapporteur is convinced that the policy’s flexibility is a necessity in this context. However, it is of fundamental importance, that the cohesion policy budget is ambitious enough to allow the policy to preserve at the same time its aforementioned core function as the EU’s long-term investment tool.

The subnational disparities and uneven convergence across the regions, with some of them stuck in development trap, remain an issue to be addressed. The Ninth Cohesion Report notes that for each region there is a diversity of reasons behind it. There is also a risk that future challenges might further widen the disparities, as they affect regions unevenly. Cohesion policy must therefore provide solutions allowing for a tailor-made approach to each region.

The Rapporteur notes with concern the situation of regions on the EU Eastern border affected by Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and insists on the need to ensure EU support for these regions, fully adapted to their specific needs.

Climate change is one of those challenges that affect regions unevenly, and the Rapporteur notes the related risk of deepening the disparities linked to the green and digital transition. In consequence, the Rapporteur firmly believes that just transition remains a valid concept, and its financing should be continued. Already for the years 2020-2027 the Cohesion Policy paved the way for supporting transition of formerly coal- and steel-dependent regions, by incorporating a transition-relevant objective into its programmes, and eventually also investing considerable funds into related fields. The Rapporteur notes that also other regions, including those affected by developments in the automotive sector, logistics or related industries and services, would require the same type of support in order to reduce the negative economic impacts of the deep transition process they are undergoing. Just Transition Fund, as one of the EU tools in this area, needs to be part of the cohesion policy, subject to its rules under a common provisions regulation, and with the appropriate level of funding.

The Rapporteur is aware that excessive administrative burden discourages the uptake of funds, and complex rules may contribute to higher error rates rather than an effective protection of EU financial resources. This implies, that there is a need for further simplification of cohesion policy rules and procedures. The Rapporteur insists however, that the simplification needs to benefit mainly the stakeholders implementing the funds, and modifications in this respect must fully preserve the shared management model.

This report comes as the first own-initiative report from REGI Committee in the 10th EP legislative term, just months before the European Commission puts forward its proposals for a new MFF as well as sectoral regulations.

Discussions on the potential evolution of cohesion policy are ongoing, and many stakeholders have already expressed their views. As co-legislator, the European Parliament has great responsibility in shaping the future of this policy, which has a direct impact on the lives and well-being of millions of citizens and businesses, and contributes to the socio-economic development and sustainability of the EU as a whole.

With this report, the Rapporteur intends to take stock of the positions expressed so far by our Parliament on the future of Cohesion Policy, in order to shape a position of the Parliament in the framework of the current discussions and in view of the future negotiations. In this context, the Rapporteur wishes to underline the importance of the work carried out by the members of the Committee on Regional Development in the past, in particular in the 9th term. His work builds on a number of European Parliament resolutions, such as the resolution on economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU: the 8th Cohesion Report, the resolution on harnessing talent in Europe’s regions, or the resolution on cohesion policy 2014-2020 - implementation and outcomes in the Member States, among others.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

19.2.2025

LETTER OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Mr AdrianDragoş Benea

Chair

Committee on Regional Development

BRUSSELS

Subject: Opinion on the ninth report on economic and social cohesion (2024/2107(INI))

Dear Chair,

Under the procedure referred to above, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has been asked to submit an opinion to your committee. At its meeting of 25 November 2024, our committee decided to send the opinion in the form of a letter.

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted the letter on 19 March 2025, and decided to call on the Committee on Regional Development Committee, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions into their motion for a resolution:

Yours sincerely,

Veronika Vrecionová

SUGGESTIONS

2. Points out that the public report on “The long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas: key achievements and ways forward” presented alongside the 9th Cohesion report, while acknowledges that 24.6bn euro or 8% of the Rural Development pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy is directed towards investments in rural areas beyond farming, setting the scene for a debate on the future of rural areas;

3. Points out that, as the European Union is looking at the future, it is indeed essential to recall the role that rural areas play in Europe and the core importance of their link with urban areas; Calls for Cohesion Policy to be more inclusive and adjustable to rural areas, and attentive to the urban-rural link; deplores that the share of the budget devoted to Cohesion Policy has decreased in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and that the specific financial tools for the development of rural areas, which depend either on the Common Agricultural Policy (LEADER) or on their mobilisation by national managing authorities, are already insufficiently funded;

4. Reminds that the conclusions of the Group of high-level specialists on the Future of the Cohesion Policy underline the need for a simplification shock, especially for rural areas, which often face complex administrative barriers that limit access to EU funding;

5. Insists that in addition to adjusting to regional needs, the Cohesion Policy must be adapted to the smallest scale: funds must be accessible to the smallest projects and project bearers; points out that their initiatives are often the most innovative and have a significant impact on rural development; reiterates that these funds should be accessible to all, regardless of their size or scope; approves of the call of the Cohesion Alliance, "For a post-2027 Cohesion Policy that leaves no one behind";

6. Regrets that as matters stand at present, rural areas, which after all are showcases for Europe, are still too often marginalised and face ongoing challenges, such as demographic change, digital transition, the need for sustainable agriculture producing affordable and high-quality food, and adapting to climate change; deplores that these areas often suffer from insufficient policy coordination;;

7. Points out that other funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF) – offer opportunities and solutions for rural areas;

8. Calls on the Commission to simplify access to EU funding and procedures under a coherent and flexible approach to territorial development, particularly for rural areas, while maintaining the principles of multi-level governance and partnership, in particular in view of a future enlarged EU;

9. Proposes that all relevant directorates-general of the European Commission be involved in a territorial and social impact assessment of policies for which they are responsible at least twice per programming period; is convinced that these evaluations would establish a more precise baseline and identify ways to integrate the characteristics of rural areas into European policies more effectively;

10. Reaffirms the importance of urban-rural linkages and of the development of inclusive strategies based on functional areas, with the aim of preventing rural areas from shrinking;

11. Notes that the cohesion policy and regional environmental strategies offer opportunities to support farmers and forest managers’ sustainable investments in climate change adaptation, in particular the prevention of floods, drought and fires;

12. Stresses the need to set cohesion policy and CAP objectives that are consistent and comparable with each other; stresses that these processes should take into account the gender perspective;

13. Calls on the Commission to identify and implement the necessary flexibility measures to ensure the transfer of unspent EU funds, channelling them to different agricultural sectors.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The Chair in her capacity as rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Date adopted

9.4.2025

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

28

4

1

Members present for the final vote

Pascal Arimont, Fredis Beleris, Dragoş Benea, Gordan Bosanac, Andi Cristea, Klára Dobrev, Klara Dostalova, Kathleen Funchion, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Sérgio Gonçalves, Krzysztof Hetman, Elsi Katainen, Isabelle Le Callennec, Nora Mebarek, Ciaran Mullooly, Elena Nevado del Campo, Andrey Novakov, Valentina Palmisano, Sabrina Repp, Marcos Ros Sempere, Antonella Sberna, Mārtiņš Staķis, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Francesco Ventola, Marta Wcisło

Substitutes present for the final vote

Sandro Gozi, Julien Leonardelli, Alexandra Mehnert, Ana Miranda Paz, Denis Nesci, Jacek Protas, Jessika Van Leeuwen

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Arno Bausemer

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

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