Regions and cities are key to deliver safety and security on the ground, CoR leadership stresses in Szczecin

Cohesion policy, security and energy were the main topics of the meeting of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions, which took place on 13 June at the invitation of the President of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Olgierd Geblewicz, in the framework of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Bureau meeting was chaired by Committee of the Regions' President Kata Tüttő. The day before, the CoR President and Mr Geblewicz held a local dialogue with students of the University of Szczecin.  

The Bureau meeting in Szczecin provided an important platform for regional and local leaders to voice their concerns about the potential centralisation of Cohesion Policy in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework. The leading theme of the meeting was security, reflecting the overarching priority of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions, highlighted one of the most pressing issues in the upcoming mid-term review of Cohesion Policy programmes for 2021-27: adapting of Cohesion Policy to the needs of a changing world, and notably safety and security. There can be no sustainable EU development without safety and security, President Tüttő emphasised, arguing that regions that feel left behind or disconnected are more vulnerable to instability, social unrest, or extremism. Security should, she said, be seen in the broad sense of the term and include food security, energy security, climate security and cyber security – with solutions targeted at the regional level.

The first part of the meeting focused on energy resilience. Tanya Hristova (BG/EPP) –mayor of Gabrovo and representative of Energy Cities – along with the President of the Polish Wind Energy Association stressed that both gas and electricity could become a powerful strategic weapon in a time of conflict, citing recent gas supply disruptions and power cuts in Spain and Portugal as examples of vulnerabilities. Representatives of local authorities expressed strong support the continued development of green energy, highlighting its role in strengthening resilience and arguing that it creates opportunities for local and regional economies. They also stressed that whether the challenge was climate change, the energy crisis, digital transformation or geopolitical tensions, short-term, adaptive policy responses by regions were crucial to ensure a high degree of resilience. 

The second focus of the Bureau meeting was given to cohesion and security with the participation of Jacek Karnowski, Deputy Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy, Hugo Sobral, Deputy Director-General at the European Commission's DG REGIO and Colonel Andrzej Kujawa from NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast based in Szczecin. In a debate moderated by Alison Hunter from the European Policy Center, local government officials underlined the importance of dual-use technology and innovation, highlighting emerging opportunities for companies in the defence and armaments sector.

Minister Karnowski emphasised the need for strong cooperation between regional and national authorities in areas such as food security, energy security, defence of local democracies against disinformation and fake news, civil defence, investment in shelters, and building hospitals and roads.  Other participants that local and regional governments are key partners in public communication and strategic messaging about hybrid threats and stressed that protecting cohesion-focused policies is critical to the defence of Europe.

The day before the Bureau meeting, President Tüttő and Olgierd Geblewicz, President of the West Pomeranian Region, held a debate with students from the University of Szczecin on young people's access to the labour market. The discussion also addressed labour mobility and demographic challenges.

Quotes

Kata Tüttő, President of the European Committee of the Regions: "Simplification should not be a fig leaf for centralisation. Simplification is a process and not an aim in itself. The ultimate aim is rather the efficiency of EU programmes. The CoR is keen to partner up with the European Commission for that purpose. But this also goes with having a less fortress-based approach within the European Commission."

Olgierd Geblewicz (PL/EPP), President of West Pomerania Region; "As the European Committee of the Regions, we are very active in shaping the future budget. Above all political divisions, we say a firm 'no' to the centralisation of funds in the future perspective. We are very united in defending the cohesion fund."

Jacek Karnowski, Deputy Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy: "We need greater flexibility in the programming and implementation of cohesion policy, and we need to maintain its decentralisation after 2027. Particularly in response to the dynamically changing security environment of today, as well as the needs of the regions, especially those on the EU's eastern border."

More information

The discussion among members of the Bureau took place ahead of the publication of the Mid-term review of Cohesion Policy programmes 2021-27 by the European Commission, which represents an important step towards the reform of the policy after 2027. 

The Polish Presidency had reaffirmed its commitment to cohesion and territorial development as essential pillars of European resilience. The Warsaw Declaration adopted during an informal ministerial meeting in May 2025 emphasises multilevel governance, place-based approaches, and the strategic role of cross-border co-operation. Szczecin, as the host of the Bureau meeting, exemplifies these principles in action.: Szczecin hosts the Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE), a NATO command established in 1999 by Poland, Germany, and Denmark. It has become a significant contributor to NATO’s credible deterrence in the Baltic Sea Region and a military key guarantor for peace and stability in the region.

The Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions is a body that brings together representatives from all the countries of the European Union, and the heads of the political groups. The main tasks of the Bureau are to set the Committee of the Regions' political priorities and monitor their implementation, and to coordinate the work of the plenary assembly and the thematic commissions. 

Contact

Wioletta Wojewodzka

Tel: +32473843986

Wioletta.wojewodzka@cor.europa.eu