Regions and cities call for more support to boost start-ups, foster innovation and create quality jobs

Strengthening Europe's competitiveness was at the centre of a meeting of the commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) on 30 September. Local and regional leaders debated the EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy, the forthcoming Quality Jobs Roadmap, the 'Zero Long-term Unemployment' pilot project, the European Heritage Label and the 2025 European Semester Spring Package. 

EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

Members exchanged views on a working document on the EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy. They welcomed the initiative launched by the European Commission in May 2025 that aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness. They emphasised the key role of local and regional authorities in the success of the strategy, as the level of governance closest to entrepreneurs, and urged for better access to funding, talent, markets, collaborative networks and infrastructure to strengthen regional ecosystems, reduce disparities and ensure balanced, innovation-driven growth across Europe.  

Rapporteur Jozef Viskupič (SK/Renew Europe), Chairman of the Trnava Self-Governing Region, said: “The emphasis on start-up and scale-up support is welcome as a tool for high-tech industrial competitiveness, but the role of regional innovation ecosystems in bringing partners together and combining funds should be better recognised. The CoR aims to contribute to future Commission proposals announced in the Start-up Strategy, especially the Innovation Act, and remains available to the Danish and Cypriot presidencies for constructive dialogue.”

Quality Jobs Roadmap

During the meeting, SEDEC members welcomed and discussed the Quality Jobs Roadmap, which is expected to be launched by the European Commission in the fourth quarter of 2025. They welcomed the initiative, which aims to foster well-functioning labour markets, promote quality jobs and fair working conditions, boost productivity and innovation, and address labour shortages to enhance the EU's competitiveness. However, they underlined that local and regional authorities should not only be implementers but true architects of this transformation and stressed that investing in skills is crucial. They highlighted that this initiative should present a clear vision for the future of European citizens, guaranteeing quality jobs and reducing uncertainty.

Debate on "Zero long-term unemployment” pilot project

Following the official launch by the European Commission of the Zero long-term unemployment pilot project  in April 2024, which came as a response to a call set out in CoR's opinion on zero long-term unemployment, local and regional leaders, high-level representatives of the European Commission and project stakeholders discussed, during the SEDEC meeting, the first steps and initial results, and the opportunities and challenges of the implementation of the nine successful projects of the pilot, which involved the active participation of local actors.  Members stressed the key role of local and regional authorities in addressing needs on the ground and highlighted the specific challenges of unemployment in rural areas. They also underlined that ensuring sustainable financing mechanisms is vital so that these projects, which put citizens and their needs at the centre, can continue to combat long-term unemployment.

European Heritage Label (EHL) initiative

Local and regional leaders held a debate on the European Heritage Label (EHL), which has been already awarded to 67 sites, reaffirming the CoR's strong support to the initiative as a driver of identity and European integration. They pointed out that the involvement of local communities remains a challenge and stressed that local and regional authorities (LRAs) are well placed to support the implementation of the EHL thanks to their experience with cultural events and their proximity to citizens. Members also emphasised the importance of the initiative for regional identity, European integration and sustainable development.

European Semester Spring Package: Boosting research and innovation for competitiveness

SEDEC members also discussed the assessment of the European Semester 2025 Spring Package, which highlights the importance of research and innovation (R&I) as a driver of EU competitiveness and underlines the key role of regions and cities in fostering strong local innovation ecosystems, vital for a sustainable EU economic growth, and successful green and digital transitions. They stressed the need for better coordination across EU, national, and regional levels to align policies and funding instruments and underlined the role of the European Committee of the Regions in promoting territorial cohesion, stakeholder engagement, and best practices.

Also during the meeting SEDEC members appointed four new rapporteurs: 

• Anne Besnier (FR/PES), Vice-President of the Region of Centre-Val de Loire, for the opinion on "Horizon Europe";
• Roberto Pella (IT/EPP), Mayor of Valdengo, for the opinion on "Erasmus+";
• Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), Vice-president of the Harghita County Council, for the opinion on "AgoraEU";
• Heike Raab (DE/PES), SEDEC Chair and State Secretary, Rhineland Palatinate State Government for the opinion on "The Protection of Youth and Minors in the Digital Sphere".