The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has formally renounced its involvement in the legislative process for the proposed regulation establishing the Temporary Decarbonisation Fund, according to a cover note received by the Council General Secretariat on 20 July 2026. The renunciation letter, dated 20 July 2026, was transmitted to the Council under document number 12129/26, affecting the interinstitutional file 2025/0418 (COD) which involves the Council, European Parliament, and European Commission.
The CoR's withdrawal means it will no longer provide its mandatory opinion on the proposal, a step typically required under the EU's legislative procedure for matters affecting regional and local authorities. The Temporary Decarbonisation Fund, proposed by the Commission in 2025, aims to support industries and regions in transitioning to low-carbon operations, with a focus on mitigating social and economic impacts. The CoR's decision to step back from the process may streamline the legislative timeline, as the Council and Parliament can now proceed without awaiting the CoR's input.
This development comes as the legislative file moves through the ordinary legislative procedure. The Council had been expected to consider the CoR's opinion alongside those of other EU bodies. The renunciation does not alter the substance of the proposal but removes one layer of advisory input. The European Parliament and Council will continue their negotiations on the fund's design, which includes provisions for financing decarbonisation projects in energy-intensive sectors and supporting workforce retraining. The CoR's absence from the process may reduce regional perspectives in the final regulation, potentially affecting local implementation strategies.