The Future of Regional Policy

Cohesion policy is one of the European Union's main investment tools for promoting balanced development across territories, reducing regional disparities, and strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and social cohesion.

In the current context of negotiations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, the future of regional policy is central to the European debate. The European Commission is proposing a review of the management model for European funds with the aim of simplifying its operation, improving its impact, and responding to new challenges such as competitiveness, security, the green and digital transitions, and demographic change. These proposals open a debate on the role that regions will continue to play in the design and implementation of cohesion policy.

The Region of Murcia's Position

The Region of Murcia advocates for a robust cohesion policy, adequately resourced and with a clear territorial dimension, in which regions continue to play a leading role in the planning, management, and evaluation of European funds.

The experience accumulated over more than three decades demonstrates that cohesion policy is an essential instrument for boosting economic growth, fostering innovation, improving infrastructure, strengthening public services, and enhancing citizens' quality of life.

In a context marked by challenges such as industrial transformation, water scarcity, the energy transition, climate change, digitalization, and the need to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs, the Region of Murcia believes that regional policy must continue to offer responses tailored to the specific needs of each territory.

Priorities for the Post-2027 Period

The Region of Murcia is committed to a regional policy model based on the following principles:

Maintaining cohesion policy as one of the European Union's main investment policies.

Guaranteeing a sufficient budget to address the economic, social, and territorial challenges of all regions.

Preserving shared management between the European Commission, Member States, and regions.

Strengthening the partnership principle, ensuring the participation of regional and local authorities in the definition and implementation of programs.

Maintaining a territorial approach that allows investments to be tailored to the characteristics and needs of each region.

Simplifying administrative procedures without reducing regional management capacity or transparency in the use of funds.

The Region of Murcia in the European Debate

The Autonomous Community actively participates in debates on the future of cohesion policy through its presence in Brussels and its collaboration with European institutions, regional networks, and national bodies.

Furthermore, it continuously monitors legislative initiatives and proposals from the European Commission, providing information to the regional government and promoting the Region's participation in key European forums related to regional policy.

The Region of Murcia also maintains close collaboration with other Spanish autonomous communities and with European interregional cooperation networks to advocate for a strong, effective cohesion policy based on the needs of the territories.

A key instrument for regional development

Cohesion policy will continue to be an essential element in building a more competitive, resilient, and cohesive Europe. The Region of Murcia will continue working to ensure that the future financial framework preserves the role of regions as key partners in the design and implementation of European policies and guarantees that EU investments respond to the real needs of citizens and the regional economy.