The future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) post 2027
COTER-VII/038
The future of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) post 2027
Cohesion Policy is one of the CoR’s key priorities, as is its European territorial cooperation (ETC/Interreg) objective, including four strands for cooperation: cross-border, transnational, outermost, and interregional. Similarly, to the Cohesion Policy, the ETC is continuously under pressure, and underfunded, something the CoR strives to change. This forward looking opinion aims at influencing the EC legislative proposal for ETC post 2027 period for better targeting the regional needs with more flexibility, synergy, complementarity, and local empowerment for rapid actions.
Paragraph 22 of the Council conclusions of 28 March 2025 highlights the EU added value of ETC and ask for its continuation and possible reinforcement: "UNDERLINES that all strands of European Territorial Cooperation foster stronger regional ties and integration among Member States, as well as cultivate positive relations between the EU and its partner countries. CALLS on the Commission to explore possible paths to strengthen interregional, transnational and cross-border cooperation, leading to increased resilience and improved functioning of the Single Market and harmonious development across the borders. EMPHASISES the need to improve synergies between mainstream programmes and Interreg programmes;"
This Council meeting was the first time that the CoR president was given the floor during the official discussions among ministers within a Council meeting.
This Council meeting was the first time that the CoR president was given the floor during the official discussions among ministers within a Council meeting.
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- considers cohesion policy and European territorial cooperation (ETC) to be the epitome of European added value and thinks that they should be strengthened in the future;
- believes that ETC should be seen as a key EU policy for promoting cohesion, EU enlargement and good relations with the EU’s neighbours. It should be considered one of the EU’s most important measures for strengthening the single market and removing obstacles to the free movement of people, services and goods in the EU;
- points out that border regions account for 40% of EU territory and that 30% of the EU population live in border regions; believes that funding for cross-border cooperation (Interreg A) should be doubled in the next programming period;
- is deeply concerned that the principles of cohesion policy and the Interreg programmes – shared management and action on an equal footing in local and regional partnerships – are being jeopardised by efforts to centralise management of EU funds in the post-2027 period;
- points out that ETC requires by definition cooperation at sub-national level across more than one Member State; coordinating that multi-actor cooperation through separate national plans will be impossible and alienate sub-national stakeholders from the European project;
- calls on the European Commission to continue its efforts to simplify the implementing rules for ETC and calls on the Member States to avoid setting additional, potentially implementation-hindering requirements beyond those set at EU level.
- considers cohesion policy and European territorial cooperation (ETC) to be the epitome of European added value and thinks that they should be strengthened in the future;
- believes that ETC should be seen as a key EU policy for promoting cohesion, EU enlargement and good relations with the EU’s neighbours. It should be considered one of the EU’s most important measures for strengthening the single market and removing obstacles to the free movement of people, services and goods in the EU;
- points out that border regions account for 40% of EU territory and that 30% of the EU population live in border regions; believes that funding for cross-border cooperation (Interreg A) should be doubled in the next programming period;
- is deeply concerned that the principles of cohesion policy and the Interreg programmes – shared management and action on an equal footing in local and regional partnerships – are being jeopardised by efforts to centralise management of EU funds in the post-2027 period;
- points out that ETC requires by definition cooperation at sub-national level across more than one Member State; coordinating that multi-actor cooperation through separate national plans will be impossible and alienate sub-national stakeholders from the European project;
- calls on the European Commission to continue its efforts to simplify the implementing rules for ETC and calls on the Member States to avoid setting additional, potentially implementation-hindering requirements beyond those set at EU level.
