With negotiations on the next EU budget set to begin, city leaders across Europe are urging the EU to strengthen its commitment to urban areas in the next EU budget and secure a robust post-2028 Cohesion Policy.
Representing 75% of Europe’s population, cities are at the forefront of tackling major challenges, including climate change, social inclusion, the housing crisis and economic development. Yet, they continue to face significant barriers, including funding shortfalls and often not being included in EU-level decision-making processes, despite being responsible for implementing EU policies locally.
That’s why city leaders are making it clear: They must have a say in the development and priorities of the next Cohesion Policy, using their expertise to bring lasting benefits to the people of Europe.
Cities are also calling for the EU to avoid the excessive centralisation of funding programmes at national level. To ensure city governments can fully contribute to Europe’s transformation, they must be directly involved in the design and implementation of these funds.
In a dedicated hearing intervention yesterday, Sharon Dijksma, Mayor of Utrecht and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Cohesion Policy, was invited to present cities’ latest position on the future of Cohesion Policy to the European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee (watch from 11:51.20).
Speaking on behalf of Eurocities’ member cities, she stressed that a stronger EU budget and a more ambitious Cohesion Policy are essential for tackling urgent local priorities, including affordable housing, sustainable mobility, climate adaptation and job creation.
“Cities are at the core of economic and social development in the EU,” stated Mayor Dijksma. “The agenda for cities must acknowledge the crucial role we play in delivering EU priorities on the ground.”
Emphasising the importance of decentralising EU funding mechanisms, she explained that initiatives like the NextGenerationEU recovery plan are too often managed solely by national governments, limiting cities’ access and flexibility in addressing local priorities.
“Cities cannot be sidelined when it comes to critical EU investment tools. The Recovery and Resilience Facility and similar programmes must ensure direct access for cities, allowing them to shape and implement solutions effectively,” she said.
Creating a strong alliance between cities and the EU
The intervention from Mayor Dijksma followed the Regional Development Committee’s meeting with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, who has been tasked with developing an ambitious policy agenda for cities.
During his intervention, Executive Vice-President Fitto said that when it comes to the future of Cohesion Policy, the European agenda for cities is a priority for the European Commission. He stated: “I continue to meet with local authorities, including mayors and organisations of mayors, because I want to discuss the agenda for cities with them.”
While welcoming this effort, Mayor Dijksma stressed that cities need more than just political recognition – they require effective resources and stronger financial instruments to deliver for citizens.
“This means investing in crucial areas such as affordable housing, welfare systems, economic resilience, public safety, and clean energy and mobility,” she explained. “I welcome the EU efforts in these areas because, without collaboration on all levels, we will never have real progress.”
Dijksma also underlined cities’ leadership in combating climate change, with cities responsible for implementing 70% of climate mitigation and 90% of climate adaptation policies EU legislation. For the second consecutive year, mayors who responded to the Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey ranked climate action as their number one priority.
However, Mayor Dijksma explained, only 20% of mayors feel they have the resources they require to meet their climate ambitions.
“A strong alliance between cities and the EU will create a stronger, sustainable and more competitive European economy. But without adequate resources, these ambitions risk being left unrealised,” she said.
Cohesion Policy is key to cities’ success
Mayor Dijksma called for a strengthened Cohesion Policy, which she described as the EU’s most effective investment tool for cities, enabling them to lead in sustainability and innovation.
She urged the EU to increase the current 8% earmarking for sustainable urban development under the European Regional Development Fund and extend these earmarks to other Cohesion Policy programmes, such as the European Social Fund (ESF+).
“Cities are where EU goals are turned into action, yet too often, they are asked to do more with less. This needs to change,” she told MEPs.
The mayor also called for the Cohesion Policy’s partnership principle to be reinforced and properly implemented to ensure that cities are treated as equal partners in EU investment decisions.
She explained that half of European mayors are dissatisfied with how this principle is currently applied, with national governments often failing to give them a meaningful say in decision-making. “Cities must be empowered to lead the way, free from political bias,” she stated.
Utrecht leads by example
Mayor Dijksma highlighted Utrecht’s success in using EU cohesion funds, explaining how the city has used these resources to develop a smart solar-powered car network, enabling vehicles to act as energy storage systems.
She also pointed to Utrecht’s transformation of the Werkspoorkwartier district into a circular business hub, promoting material reuse, and the city’s major investments in cycling networks and public transport systems to reduce emissions and improve urban mobility.
She called for an expansion of the European Urban Initiative (EUI), which has supported innovative urban transformation projects with €400 million but remains limited in scale.
“Although limited in scope, the EUI has proven its value. Future EU budgets must scale up such programmes to support the ambitious transitions cities are leading,” she said.
Recognition and support from MEPs
Mayor Dijksma’s intervention sparked a lively debate among MEPs, many of whom expressed strong support for cities’ role in delivering EU priorities.
German MEP Sabrina Repp stressed the importance of avoiding competition between urban and rural areas, calling for Cohesion Policy to foster cooperation rather than division. “Cohesion policy must build bridges, not barriers, between cities and rural areas. Both must work together to achieve balanced development,” she said.
Dijksma agreed, responding: “Cities are not islands. A strong cohesion policy must deliver shared benefits across all regions, urban and rural alike.”
Hungarian MEP Gabriella Gerzsenyi reinforced the need for direct funding and greater financial autonomy for cities, arguing that local governments understand their needs better than national administrations. “The role of cities and regions is crucial in Cohesion Policy. Municipalities, mayors and local authorities know best the local needs and understand the problems firsthand. Therefore, their financial resources should be reinforced, their responsibility enhanced, and their partnership with the EU strengthened,” she said.
She added: “Recent initiatives from the European Commission to move towards a more centralised approach and a single national plan should not be supported.”
Croatian MEP Gordan Bosanac, drawing on his experience as a former local councillor, echoed concerns about small cities struggling to access funding due to bureaucratic and administrative barriers.
Supporting this position, Dijksma called for enhanced technical support and simplified funding mechanisms to ensure no city is left behind. “Equity must be at the core of Cohesion Policy. Every city, regardless of size, must have the opportunity to thrive,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dutch MEP Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle, thanked Mayor Dijksma for updating MEPs on what’s happening in cities. “Mayor Dijksma’s concerns on the lack of housing, climate change and mobility are shared by many cities across the European Union,” said the MEP. “We need to deliver on those areas, we need a simplified Cohesion Policy to do so, and we need to make sure cities and regions are engage in the design of the future Cohesion Policy as our partners.”
A call for action
As the debate concluded, Mayor Dijksma reiterated her call for a more ambitious Cohesion Policy that empowers cities to drive Europe’s transformation.
“If Europe is to achieve its climate and social objectives, it must invest in its cities. Cohesion Policy is Europe’s most powerful tool for delivering on shared goals, and it must evolve to meet the challenges of the future,” she stated.
“As Eurocities, we look forward to working closely with the REGI Committee to build a stronger urban dimension in Cohesion Policy, ensuring cities have the resources, recognition, and frameworks they need to lead Europe’s urban transformation.”
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Watch the hearing intervention by Sharon Dijksma, Mayor of Utrecht and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Cohesion Policy, at the European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee (watch from 11:51.20) , where she presented cities’ latest position on the future of EU Cohesion Policy.
