Barcelona hosts the handover of the Presidency
On 10 and 11 June 2026, the Four Motors for Europe gathered in Barcelona for the handover of the Presidency from Catalonia to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
The institutional ceremony was attended by Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia; Jaume Duch, Minister for European Union and External Action of the Government of Catalonia; Fabrice Pannekoucke, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council; Florian Haßler, State Secretary for Political Coordination and International Affairs of Baden-Württemberg; and Raffaele Cattaneo, Undersecretary to the Presidency for International and European Relation of the Lombardy Region.
The event marked the conclusion of a Presidency focused on strengthening both the political influence of the Four Motors for Europe and operational cooperation between the member regions.
A Presidency focused on political influence and operational cooperation
Under the motto “The Compass Motors: the contribution of the regions to the debate on the future economic and social model of Europe”, the Catalan Presidency sought to reinforce the role of regions in key European debates while promoting cooperation in areas of shared strategic interest.
Throughout the year, the Four Motors for Europe adopted common positions on major European policy discussions, including the future Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, the future of European Territorial Cooperation and industrial competitiveness. The Presidency also promoted the participation of the network in high-level debates on Europe’s future, notably through a joint event organised during the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, which explored the relationship between competitiveness and cohesion as key drivers of Europe’s future prosperity. The debate featured Enrico Letta, author of the report Much More Than a Market,alongside representatives of the Four Motors for Europe and European institutions.
At the same time, cooperation continued through the Working Groups, which developed activities and exchanges in areas such as innovation, semiconductors, hydrogen, sustainable food systems, labour mobility and vocational training, sustainable tourism, advanced manufacturing, health innovation and industrial transformation.
Adoption of the Multiannual Strategic Roadmap 2026–2030
One of the main outcomes of the Catalan Presidency has been the adoption of the Multiannual Strategic Roadmap 2026–2030, conceived as a common framework to guide cooperation among the Four Motors for Europe over the coming years.
The Roadmap aims to reinforce continuity, strengthen coordination and increase the ambition of the network, while providing a shared strategic direction beyond the rotating presidencies.
It is structured around four strategic pillars:
- Leading innovation in advanced technologies;
- Decarbonisation to compete;
- Gaining strategic autonomy, safety and resilience;
- Towards an inclusive economy: talent, decent work and equal opportunities.
The document also seeks to strengthen political incidence, promote flagship initiatives and foster cooperation among regions and stakeholders in areas where joint action can generate tangible European added value.
A collective effort involving Working Groups and stakeholders
Prior to the institutional ceremony, representatives of the Four Motors for Europe Working Groups on Research and Higher Education, Economy, Environment, Electric and Hydrogen Mobility, Sustainable Food Systems, Labour Mobility and Vocational Training, and Tourism met in a Technical Session to present the main achievements of the Catalan Presidency and discuss their contributions to the implementation of the Roadmap.
The session also brought together representatives of economic agencies, universities, trade unions and Engineers’ organisations collaborating within the framework of the Four Motors for Europe, reflecting the network’s commitment to an open and collaborative approach to interregional cooperation.
The event also included the renewal of the Business Passport, a joint initiative of the economic development agencies of the four regions aimed at supporting SMEs in their internationalisation efforts and facilitating access to business opportunities across the territories of the Four Motors for Europe.
Looking ahead
With the handover ceremony, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes officially assumes the Presidency of the Four Motors for Europe. Building on the foundations laid during the Catalan Presidency, the incoming Presidency, during its term, will lead the implementation of the Multiannual Strategic Roadmap 2026–2030 and continue strengthening cooperation between four of Europe’s most dynamic and innovative regions.
The Multiannual Strategic Roadmap provides, for the first time, a shared framework to ensure continuity between presidencies, strengthen coordination among the regions and increase the ambition of the Four Motors for Europe in the years ahead.
