On 16 July 2025, the European Commission proposed a Regulation establishing Global Europe, corresponding to the EU's main financial instrument for external action, with a proposed budget of €200 billion, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034. This instrument shall replace and consolidate the current financial instruments for enlargement, neighborhood, international partnerships and humanitarian aid in efforts to better serve EU strategic interests and EU responsiveness to crises through greater flexibility and simplification.
Aiming to strike a delicate balance between, promoting EU's values, reaching SDGs and strengthening peace and security, on the one hand, and catering for EU's strategic interests, on the other, the Global Europe Regulation should acknowledge local and regional authorities as strategic actors in EU's external action. It should also recognize that effective engagement with LRAs can contribute to stronger accountability and impact of Global Europe and foresee dedicated funding, including under Global Gateway as well for capacity building, in addition to cross-border and inter-regional cooperation.
The objective of the stakeholder consultation is to gather relevant input and perspectives on the Global Europe Regulation and the local and regional dimension in view of the preparation of the CoR's opinion, to be adopted at the CoR Plenary on 1-2 July 2026.
The consultation is open to representatives of international organisations, civil society, including non-governmental organisations, think tanks and academia, networks and associations of the local and regional authorities as well as representative offices of EU regions etc.
The consultation will take place in hybrid format, on the premises of the CoR, Bâtiment Jacques Delors Rue Belliard 99-101, Brussels, in room JDE 51, and online (the link to Teams will be sent in due course to registered participants).
If you are interested in participating, the deadline for registrations – via EU survey - is 28th January 2026 at midnight.
The meeting will be held in English only, without interpretation. Interpretation through AI tools could be used, subject to prior agreement of the participants.
You may also submit your contributions in writing (max 2 pages) to civex@cor.europa.eu by Friday, 6 February 2026 at the latest.