The Four Motors for Europe present two joint positions to the European Commission on the future EU budget and the importance of European Territorial Cooperation
The Joint Declaration on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 (MFF) highlights a set of principles and governance proposals aimed at achieving a more strategic, flexible and territorially anchored EU budget, placing regions at the heart of its design, implementation and evaluation. It includes a dedicated section on Cohesion Policy, framing it as a strategic investment to reduce disparities and strengthen competitiveness, with a more modern, participatory and locally adapted architecture. In addition, it puts forward specific proposals across four thematic pillars identified as priorities by the Four Motors: leadership in research and innovation in advanced technologies, decarbonisation to compete, strategic autonomy and resilience, and an inclusive economy focused on talent, decent work and equal opportunities.
The position paper on the importance and future of European Territorial Cooperation underscores the strategic value of Interreg programmes as key instruments to promote cohesion, innovation, and cross-border cooperation among regions. It raises concerns about the risks of recentralising EU funds in the post-2027 financial framework and calls for the continued decentralised and regionally driven nature of these programmes.
On 3 July, institutional representatives of the Four Motors for Europe presented both declarations in meetings with various Directorates-General of the European Commission. The network’s delegation was composed of Jaume Duch, Minister for the European Union and Foreign Action of the Government of Catalonia; Florian Hassler, State Secretary for Political Coordination and European Affairs of the State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg; Raffaele Cattaneo, Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Lombardy Region for International and European Relations; and Antoine Le Roux, Deputy Director-General responsible for Economy, Higher Education, Innovation, Training and International Relations of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.
Specifically, the declarations were shared with high rank European Commission Offcials in fruitful and constructive meetings.
