Commitments and Early Successes Executive Vice-President Raffaelle Fitto opened his 2025 speech before the European Parliament's Committee of Regional Development by highlighting recent political progress under his remit, including rapid adoption of the RESTORE and BRIDGEforEU initiatives. He emphasized the crucial role cohesion policy plays in fostering a resilient, secure, and competitive EU, underscoring the importance of a strong partnership with regional stakeholders and national authorities.
Mid-term Review to Boost Implementation Fitto’s key concrete proposal is a mid-term review of current cohesion programmes to accelerate fund utilization and realign investments with emergent priorities such as urban development, affordable housing, and the right to stay in communities hard hit by demographic shifts. This review, involving consultations with 27 national ministers and local authorities, is designed to reduce bureaucratic inertia that has slowed projects in this cycle.
More Flexible, Urban-Focused, and Results-driven Fitto advocates a modernization of cohesion policy, placing stronger emphasis on urban areas through an agenda covering housing, climate action, digitalization, social inclusion, and equality. The approach promotes flexibility to respond to security concerns along eastern borders and to demographic challenges. He signals a future simplification to cut administrative burdens while preserving multilevel governance.
Stakeholders and Impacts - EU regional and local authorities benefit from the proposed flexibility and reduced bureaucracy, facilitating project delivery and local engagement. - Residents particularly in urban centers and vulnerable rural communities might see better access to affordable housing and essential services like clean water. - Member States face pressure to more rapidly deploy cohesion funds and must adjust programmes to align with mid-term review findings. - EU taxpayers might experience more effective use of public funds due to efficiency improvements but will be watching closely the balance between simplification and oversight.
Overall, Fitto’s views signal a shift toward empowering subnational regions and cities while remaining attentive to demographic and geopolitical realities. His proposals carry moderate immediate impacts through the mid-term review process and pending legislative negotiations shaping cohesion policy post-2027.
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