The European Parliament intends next week to ask the European Commission to increase support for cities and the European Union’s eastern border regions in the 2028–2034 multiannual budget.
Kristīne Liepiņa, the Parliament’s press secretary in Latvia, said MEPs are expected to demand that future cohesion policy respect a “right to stay” in EU cities and give stronger support to regions facing Russian aggression.
The Parliament is finishing several legislative files tied to the next long-term EU budget. They cover national and regional partnership plans, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and other related instruments.
MEPs are expected to press the Commission to apply the “right to stay” through cohesion funding in the 2028–2034 financial framework. The money would support affordable housing, quality jobs, public services, transport, healthcare and connectivity, especially in cities and areas where the population is falling.
A related report calls for more cohesion investment in digital infrastructure, connectivity, civil preparedness, resilience and dual-use infrastructure. It points to regions exposed to Russia’s military aggression, hybrid threats and geopolitical pressure.
The report also proposes reserved allocations of up to 10% of the budgets of the relevant EU funding instruments. It seeks at least €150 million in special Interreg funding to offset losses after cooperation with Russia and Belarus was suspended.