Raffaele Fitto, the Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms of the European Commission, delivered a keynote speech at the Cities Forum 2025 in Kraków outlining his vision and concrete steps to empower European cities. His speech focused on placing cities at the heart of EU cohesion policy, emphasizing their pivotal role as strategic actors that translate EU goals into tangible benefits for citizens.
Concrete Policy Proposals and Priorities Fitto highlighted the mid-term review of the cohesion policy as an opportunity to reprogram funds on a voluntary basis towards five new priority areas: affordable housing, energy transition, water resilience, competitiveness, and defense. These represent a targeted approach to urban challenges, with concrete priorities aligning closely with citizens’ lived realities, particularly the housing crisis affecting millions across urban and rural areas. The Commission intends to streamline EU support mechanisms to be more accessible to cities of all sizes, especially addressing administrative and budget constraints faced by smaller municipalities.
Increasing Cities’ Role in EU Policymaking A notable policy orientation from the speech is the proposal to involve cities not just as implementers but also as strategic partners in EU policymaking. This represents a tilt towards greater integration, increasing the voice and agency of local authorities within the Union, supporting the principle of multi-level governance in EU affairs.
Stakeholder Impacts For urban local authorities and mayors, this agenda offers increased influence and dedicated funding streams to tackle pressing challenges, notably affordable housing and climate resilience. EU member states might experience shifts in resource allocation priorities, requiring coordination with local governance structures. For the European Commission, this implies intensified coordination among Commissioners and enhanced dialogue mechanisms with cities. Urban residents stand to benefit from improved public services and infrastructure but may also experience transitional challenges as reforms and funding reallocations are implemented.
By promoting cohesion policy as a tool for growth, jobs, and social inclusion, Fitto’s speech reflects a strategic effort to address the cleavage between national state control and increasing EU-level support to local urban policies, blending regulatory and partnership approaches to urban governance.
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