The Community defends the role of the regions in the design and management of the European budget
Spanish regional and local representatives, including the Director-General for the European Union, Adrián Zittelli, conveyed to the Spanish MEPs—during the meeting of the Spanish delegation of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)—the common position adopted in October in Santiago de Compostela regarding the future multiannual financial framework of the European Union from 2028 onwards.
The document rejects the European Commission’s proposal to establish national and regional cooperation plans that merge into a “macro-fund” policies as diverse as cohesion, agriculture and fisheries, employment and social inclusion, or housing.
“This approach may reduce the effectiveness of fund management and impact, as well as weaken the necessary role of the regions in the design, management, and implementation of Cohesion Policy, with an evident risk of centralising decisions in the Member States,” Zittelli stated.
The Director-General for the European Union took part in the meeting of the Spanish delegation of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which brought together representatives from the autonomous communities and Spanish MEPs, along with the Ambassador of Spain’s Permanent Representation to the European Union.
Zittelli emphasised “the importance of building a strong Spanish position by establishing coordination channels between the autonomous communities, the national government, and MEPs, enabling us to contribute effectively to negotiations on key issues such as the development of the so-called ‘regional check’ of national plans or SME participation in the Competitiveness Fund.”
The meeting was chaired by the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda, as head of the Spanish delegation, and was attended by the presidents of the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Chartered Community of Navarre, and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, as well as representatives from the remaining regions.
The European Commission presented last July its budget proposal for the 2028–2034 period, also known as the multiannual financial framework (MFF), with a total of 2 trillion euros. The European Parliament and the EU Member States must negotiate this proposal over the next two years so that it can enter into force in January 2028.
Thus, “2026 will be a key year to influence the negotiations and ensure that the interests of Spain and the Region of Murcia are taken into account,” Adrián Zittelli noted.