Regions and cities call for a closer, stronger, cohesive and ambitious Europe

President Cordeiro: "EU leaders cannot continuously call for Europe to be closer to citizens if they keep approaching it from the top. We need to start in our local communities and in our regions."

Whilst a new political cycle is starting for the European Union, the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, delivered his annual address on the State of Regions and Cities in the European Union.

The fifth edition of the EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities, published by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), was presented on 7 October by President Vasco Alves Cordeiro to European, national and regional leaders, decision-makers and stakeholders at the opening session of the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities.  

President Cordeiro said: "With a new political cycle starting in the European Union, I would like to extend to the renewed European Parliament, European Commission and leadership of the European Council the readiness and willingness of the European Committee of the Regions, of cities and regions across Europe to cooperate, to help, to join forces to make the European Union walk along the path of unity, diversity, and solidarity. Because the state of our Union starts with the state of our regional and local communities." 

With regards to recent developments in the debate on the next EU long-term budget, President Cordeiro added: "Today, it is also our clear and loud message, an unequivocal and unapologetic rejection of a recent idea of having one single programme at national level in the new multiannual financial framework, which – if true – would abolish the participation of regions and cities. From here today I call upon the regions and cities of Europe to rise and take a stand against a proposal that – if true – implies that we will be excluded, side-lined, bypassed. And let us not forget that more than about regions and cities, this is about the Europe we want to have in the future."

Some of the highlights of the EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities are: 

• Regions and cities experience daily the climate crisis, with extreme heat, floods, droughts, and fires. 120.000 heat-related deaths are expected yearly by 2050. Regions and cities call for up to €200 billion per year to be invested in climate adaptation, addressing social and territorial vulnerabilities.
• The green and digital transitions are having asymmetric territorial impacts that will need to be addressed with place-based solutions. Cohesion Policy has shown its capacity to improve quality of life. Regions and cities call for a stronger and renewed Cohesion Policy for all regions.
• For every €10 spent on environmental policies, €8 are spent locally. Regions and cities call for targeted financial support to implement the European Green Deal.
• The industrial transformation of Europe is affecting regions differently. The EU’s competitiveness needs a functioning single market and relies on a strong Cohesion Policy. Regions and cities call for a new industrial strategy tailored to territorial realities.
• 100 million people are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. 47% of young Europeans (18-34) must live in their parents’ homes. Local and regional authorities are responsible for 50% of expenditures on infrastructure, housing, health, education and social services. Regions and cities call for quality public services.
• The renewed impetus for enlargement, sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, represents a historic milestone for the EU. Regions and cities call for a meaningful involvement in the enlargement process.
• Regions and cities account for more than half of total government public investments. The transformation of our societies calls for massive investments. Regions and cities call for an ambitious and place-based EU budget that supports local investments, with a strong Cohesion Policy at its heart.
• Citizens’ trust in regional and local authorities has increased substantially over the past 10 years; it reached its highest point in 2024, at 60%, the highest among all levels of governments. Regions and cities call for a stronger role for the European Committee of the Regions.

A debate on future challenges for keeping Europe cohesive while enlarging it to candidate countries followed President Cordeiro's speech. The Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Elisa Ferreira, the Vice-President of the European Parliament Younous Omarjee, the Deputy Mayor of Tirana Jonida Halili and the Mayor of the Ukrainian municipality of Orzhytsia, Olena Sydorenko, took the floor during the debate. The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and the Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko intervened via video messages. 

More information

• EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities webpage, which includes the full speech of President Vasco Alves Cordeiro (text and video), the full report and factsheets, previous editions.
• Pictures from the speech and the opening session of the #EURegionsWeek 2024.