‘Cohesion policy – the driving force in implementing the EU agenda for cities’
A-10-2026-0263
Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Denis Nesci
- Voted on · Adopted 601–20–36 · See the decision →
- Full procedure 2026/2027
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A resolution welcoming the Commission's 'An EU Agenda for Cities' and asking that it complement, not replace, cohesion policy.¶ It calls for cities to be fully involved in designing and running EU policy and the 2028-2034 national and regional partnership plans.¶¶ It treats the housing crisis as a main priority, backing cohesion funding for affordable, sustainable and energy-efficient housing and the 'right to stay' principle.¶¶ It asks for simpler access to EU funds, a dedicated urban strand in technical assistance and an EU Cities platform as a one-stop shop.¶¶¶ It asks the future multiannual financial framework to ring-fence urban resources and to raise the ERDF minimum for integrated urban development from 8 % to 13 %.¶ It covers essential urban services, security, climate resilience, digitalisation, culture, sport and tourism, and calls for focus on small, island, coastal and shrinking cities.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Regional Development welcomes the EU agenda for cities but wants cities recognised as co-makers of EU policy, the urban dimension strengthened in the 2028-2034 plans, housing and the 'right to stay' prioritised, and access to funds simplified.¶¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the Commission's EU agenda for cities as a comprehensive urban framework that should complement cohesion policy and respect subsidiarity, proportionality and partnership.¶
- Welcomes regular targeted dialogues and an annual high-level political dialogue with cities, and calls for simplification and fewer bottlenecks for cities using EU funds.¶
- Calls for local and regional authorities to be fully involved in setting investment priorities and designing cohesion programmes and the 2028-2034 partnership plans.¶
- Welcomes the mid-term review's flexibility but says it must not weaken cohesion's core objectives; asks the Commission for a common method to measure urban and metropolitan pressure.¶
- Calls for urban greening plans, nature restoration and climate resilience measures to be priorities of the urban agenda, and for urban civil preparedness investments to be eligible under cohesion policy.¶¶
- Calls for a dedicated urban strand in the Technical Support Instrument for small and medium-sized cities, directly accessible to cities and functional urban areas.¶
- Treats the housing crisis as a main priority: cohesion policy should support affordable, sustainable, energy-efficient housing and student accommodation, respecting local competences.¶¶¶
- Asks that the urban nature of investments, beneficiary numbers and income generation count in the co-financing rate, with a higher rate for inter-community projects and Climate City Contracts.¶
- Defines the 'right to stay' as the right of all people to remain, live and prosper where they choose, and asks the Commission to implement it in the new multiannual financial framework period.¶
- Lists essential urban services to be funded: transport and mobility, water management, environmental quality, education and childcare, healthcare, social care, and employment and training.¶¶¶
- Calls for stronger administrative capacity and simpler funding rules, including faster reimbursement, wider use of simplified cost options and digital reporting, with targeted simplification for small municipalities.¶¶
- Asks for ring-fenced urban resources in the future multiannual financial framework and to raise the ERDF minimum for integrated territorial and sustainable urban development from 8 % to 13 %.¶
Who is affected
- Cities and functional urban areas: to be given a structured role in EU policy and easier access to funding.¶¶
- Small and medium-sized, island, coastal, shrinking and outermost cities: targeted simplification and support.¶¶
- Member states: asked to involve urban authorities and allocate more resources to cities in the partnership plans.¶¶
- The Commission: asked to set up an EU Cities platform, urban pressure methodology and urban impact checks.¶¶¶
- Residents facing housing costs, notably young people, students, families and vulnerable groups.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- Around three quarters of the EU's population live in cities and other urban areas.¶
- Local authorities implement approximately 70 % of EU legislation.¶
- In 2025, young Europeans left their parents' home at an average age of 26.3.¶
- Tourism accounts for approximately 5 % of the EU's GDP.¶
- The ERDF minimum for integrated territorial and sustainable urban development would rise from the current 8 % to 13 % post-2027.¶
Legal basis: Articles 2 and 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union; Articles 14, 174, 175, 177 and 349 TFEU.¶¶