The General Affairs Council (GAC) adopted the conclusions on the cohesion policy beyond 2027 calling for maintaining the key principles of the cohesion policy in the future: shared management, multi-level governance, territorially-oriented approach and partnership.

The Ministers also expressed their support for border regions, in particular those neighbouring Russia and Belarus as well as their intention to keep future cohesion policy open to all regions.

Time has come to turn words into action. The EU has to face many challenges today: the war in Ukraine, increased competitiveness, resilience and defence capabilities of the EU. Europe must be stronger, more sovereign and more responsible. The time to act and modernise the cohesion policy to adapt it to the new geopolitical situation has just come

- the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said at the Council meeting.

The Cohesion policy funds should primarily be used for the development of Polish regions. The NRP, on the other hand - as a new facility - can be used to strengthen the defence industry in the field of dual-use investments and to support critical infrastructure projects

- Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz told journalists still before the opening of the Council meeting. 

The Minister stressed that the objective of the Security and Defence Fund, created under the Polish NRP, is to strengthen the defence industry, critical infrastructure and dual-use. She explained that the fund would not be used to purchase armaments, but to invest in the competitiveness of the defence industry, in infrastructure, including local infrastructure such as dual-use shelters.

Conclusions of the General Affairs Council

The Council's discussion takes place at a crucial time - in anticipation of the European Commission's forthcoming proposal for the next multiannual financial framework. It sends a strong final signal to the Commission before the publication of the new package of regulations scheduled for July 2025.

The main elements of the Council conclusions are as follows: firstly, cohesion should remain at the core of European integration. Secondly, cohesion should be open to all regions across the European Union. Thirdly, it is important that Interreg remains a strong element of the cohesion policy. Finally, cohesion should be based on key principles such as multi-level governance and partnership

- Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz said.

The conclusions of the General Affairs Council stressed, among other, the need to maintain key principles of the cohesion policy in the future, such as shared management; multi-level governance, partnership, people-centred and place-based approaches.

The cohesion policy should be open to all regions. It should be subject to discussion and revision since we have to take into account the new geopolitical reality, the new economic reality that require the European Union to be more secure, resilient and competitive

- the Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy said at a press conference after the Council meeting.

It was also stressed in the conclusions that the cohesion policy should recognise new challenges, including those faced by the border regions with Russia and Belarus.

General Affairs Council (Cohesion)

Following the Council meeting, the ministers held an informal discussion on the provision of additional funds for future cohesion policy.

The organisation of General Affairs Council meetings in a cohesion format is a Polish initiative proposed by our country during its first presidency of the EU Council in 2011. At that time, the ministers of the Member States, responsible for the cohesion policy had the opportunity to discuss the effects and future of the policy formally for the first time. Today's Council meeting, 14 years after its first opening meeting, was chaired by the Polish Minister, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz.

Cohesion policy critical for resilience and competitiveness

During the Council meeting, the Romanian delegation reported on the elaboration of a document expressing the intent to maintain a strong cohesion policy for growth, convergence and competitiveness.

In addition to Romania, 16 countries supported the document, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy. In particular, the document draws attention to the need to ensure adequate funding for the cohesion policy.

Meeting with the Minister for Investment and European Projects of Romania

During her visit to Brussels, Minister Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz also met with the Romanian Minister for Investment and European Projects, Marcel Boloș. The discussions focused on issues relating to the STEP and ReArm EU initiatives, the exchange of experience on the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as the role and involvement of regions in the future cohesion policy.