The EU Council has published a document outlining the planning of meetings for the Ad hoc Working Party on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) regarding National and Regional Partnerships (NRP), aiming to advance negotiations on a new legislative proposal for the NRP instrument (interinstitutional file 2025/0240 (COD)). The document, dated 1 June 2026, sets the stage for discussions on a first Presidency Compromise Proposal on specific articles and a technical seminar on the interplay between the NRP Regulation and the Performance Regulation.
Document details The information note, issued by the General Secretariat of the Council, details the schedule and objectives of the working party meetings. The focus is on finalising the legal framework for the partnership component of the EU's long-term budget, which is part of the broader MFF negotiations. The meetings are expected to address key articles of the proposed regulation and clarify technical linkages with the Performance Regulation.
Policy orientations and trade-offs The negotiations involve balancing the need for a robust partnership framework with flexibility for member states. The compromise proposal aims to reconcile differing views on the scope and implementation of partnerships, potentially affecting the distribution of EU funds. A key trade-off is between ensuring strong EU-level oversight and allowing national/regional autonomy in managing partnerships.
Impact on stakeholders - EU institutions: The Council's working party will shape the final regulation, influencing the European Parliament's position in co-decision. - National authorities: Member states will be directly affected by the rules on partnerships, which determine how EU funds are allocated and managed at national and regional levels. - Regional and local authorities: The NRP instrument is designed to strengthen partnerships with sub-national entities, potentially giving them a greater role in fund implementation. - EU taxpayers and beneficiaries: The efficiency and effectiveness of EU spending on partnerships will impact the value for money and the delivery of EU policies on the ground.
Expected institutional follow-up Following the working party meetings, the Presidency will refine the compromise proposal for discussion in the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) and eventually for adoption by the Council. The European Parliament will then consider the Council's position under the ordinary legislative procedure.
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