DG REGIO’s consultation process on future Cohesion Policy

The reflection process on the future of Cohesion Policy began across the EU in 2024. Discussions took place within various expert and stakeholder groups, as well as through events and debates, including within the programmes of the Cohesion Policy funds. To this end, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) launched a twofold consultation process to gather opinions, comments, and suggestions on what form Interreg and Cohesion Policy more broadly should take in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

  • DG REGIO encouraged Interreg programmes and macro-regional strategies (MRSs) to run a stakeholders’ consultation as they best know their constituency and already have some experience in this respect (e.g. consultations to prepare the 2014-2020 Interreg, MRSs stakeholder consultations concerning Action Plan revisions),
  • Interact  gathered inputs from Interreg Programmes and conducted a consultation with Interreg programmes and MRSs on the other.

EUSAIR Cohesion Policy Post 2027 Consultation

The consultation on the future of Cohesion Policy beyond 2027,  was conducted by the Facility Point of the EUSAIR (IPA ADRION 2021 – 2027) with the help of StEP (IPA ADRION 2021 – 2027) and the support from M&E Factory company. The consultation was carried out in the context of a broader EU-wide effort to gather insights and recommendations for shaping the future Cohesion Policy in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Final report on EUSAIR Perspective on future Cohesion Policy Post 2027 considering results from all activities described in detail below was submited to European Commission in December 2024.

EUSAIR Consultations Activities

  • STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS SURVEY

In order to enhance the cooperation within the Adriatic-Ionian Region and strengthen the role of macro-regional cooperation in the future Cohesion Policy the stakeholders were invited  to fill in the survey . The results of the survey will be published here.

  • STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AT EVENTS

At the 9th EUSAIR Forum in Šibenik on 16 May 2024 a joint session was organised on the topic by EUSAIR and Interreg programmes IPA ADRION and Italy Croatia. Joint summary report of the Session: Shaping Cohesion Post 2027”, can be found following the link Stakeholder consultation_Shaping Cohesion Post 2027 summary report. You can also explore the PPT presentation of the Session following the link: PPT_Stakeholder consultation_Shaping Cohesion Post 2027

  • SURVEY AMONG EUSAIR GOVERNANCE BODIES

At the same time as stakeholder consultation survey a survey among EUSAIR governance bodies was carried out, results of which were considered in the Final Report submitted to European Commission in December 2024. The topic was discussed at Autumn Pillar Thematic Steering Group meetings, National Coordinators’  meetings and at the spring EUSAIR Governing Board.

  • WORKSHOP AND INTERVIEWS WITH EUSAIR EU FUNDS MANAGING AUTHORITIES AND NIPACS

Back to back to Greek Presidency Kick off in Corfu on 1st October 2024 a workshop with coordination, managing authorities and NIPACs of mainstream programmes in EUSAIR participating countries was organised. Interreg EUSAIR programmes were addressed through interviews.

HARVESTING REPORT ON POST 2027 INTERREG

This Harvesting Report on Post-2027 Interreg presents the results of stakeholder, citizen, and programme consultations carried out in 2024 as part of the broader reflection on the future of Cohesion Policy. Overall, the consultations led to the following major conclusions regarding post-2027:

  1.  Interreg is both a tool and a policy to bring European values and policies close to the people through cooperation governance, trust building, communities and citizens’ actions, place-based approaches (customised to local needs) and joint projects.
  2. Interreg is appreciated for its role in opening up new opportunities for cooperation, reaching beyond borders, fixing the issues linked to the
    different legal and administrative systems (hampering the full opportunities of the Single Market) and learning from each other (thereby benefitting from Europe’s diversity);
  3. Interreg is crucial for candidate countries, outermost regions and neighbouring countries (especially it prepares the accession of
    candidate countries); and
  4. Interreg acts on the territories of several Member States and, in many cases, it also involves non-Member States; therefore, it needs to keep the key elements of its ecosystem built and successfully tested over 35 years (i.e. programmes with common budget, joint preparation and implementation, shared management).

Read the Harvesting Report On Post 2027 INTERREG HERE!