The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted its opinion on the proposed Regulation for Union support on asylum, migration and integration for 2028-2034, calling for local and regional authorities (LRAs) to be systematically involved in designing, implementing and monitoring National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs). The opinion, dated 9 July 2026, insists that LRAs must be core partners in the funding framework, with guaranteed involvement, dedicated resources, and capacity support.
The CoR demands that Union support be aligned with the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, with adequate resources for LRAs involved in reception, asylum, return and integration. Allocation of support must be based on evidence and risk-based assessment of migratory pressures and structural vulnerabilities, including hybrid threats like instrumentalisation of migration. The CoR recommends dedicated provisions in NRPPs for asylum, migration and integration, and reinforces multilevel governance, partnership and a place-based approach. Clear legal guarantees must secure LRA involvement in NRPP design, management, implementation and monitoring.
The CoR calls for systematic engagement of the CoR when setting integration priorities, through cooperation with the European Commission. Greater flexibility within NRPPs is supported for swift response to emerging challenges, alongside predictable long-term funding, clear spending priorities, adequate co-financing, and access to funding for LRAs. The CoR endorses LRA involvement in the EU Facility and encourages clear rules for LRA participation in decision-making over the Flexibility envelope of the NRPP framework; LRAs need targeted capacity-building, training and technical assistance. Amendments propose recognising LRAs as eligible for financial resources, ensuring their structured involvement in NRPPs, addressing border regions and transit areas, and associating the CoR with the EU Facility implementation.
The opinion strengthens the role of local and regional authorities, giving them a formal voice in migration funding decisions, which could improve policy implementation at grassroots level. However, it may increase administrative complexity for national governments, which must now coordinate with LRAs in NRPP design. The European Commission gains a structured partner in the CoR for setting integration priorities, but may face pressure to allocate more resources to LRA capacity-building. EU taxpayers could see more efficient spending if local knowledge improves outcomes, but also risk higher administrative costs from multilevel governance requirements.
The opinion will be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council as part of the legislative process on the 2028-2034 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund regulation. The Commission is expected to consider the CoR's recommendations when finalising the proposal.