Juraj Droba, Chairman of Bratislava Self-governing Region and ECR member, presented his opinion on metropolitan regions at the 25th meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER) on 23 October 2019. Mr Droba has focused on the issue of metropolitan regions – of which Bratislava itself is one – and has been working as rapporteur since February. His opinion – The challenges of metropolitan regions and their position in the future Cohesion Policy post 2020 – was adopted at the Brussels meeting. It highlights the need for a specific approach to metropolitan regions in the preparations for the new programming period. As Mr Droba explained: "This is because these are regions that in many cases are statistically among the wealthiest, but the reality is often very different. Growing urbanisation means they have to face a number of challenges, such as increasing demand for high-quality public services and infrastructure and problems of housing, the environment or social exclusion, while not having sufficient resources in their own budgets."

Despite these complex challenges, metropolitan regions are key players in the implementation of EU policies, they ensure the EU's global competitiveness and are centres of economic growth, innovation and creativity. If properly supported, they can help to make sure the benefits are shared fairly in the area as a whole and to strengthen urban-rural links, thereby playing a part in closing regional disparities. These regions often have very limited access to EU funds because of their high GDP per capita, which is how the level of regional development is currently measured. However, this does not take into account regional purchasing power parity and is based on national averages, with little weight given to social, demographic or environmental aspects. To get a fuller picture, therefore, the Bratislava region Chairman proposes using the Social Development Index (SDI), whose data can help politicians properly set investment priorities in the regions. He advocates more leeway for the regions on thematic concentration and in deciding the proportion of funding to be invested in policy objectives 1 (Smarter Europe) and 2 (Greener, carbon free Europe) according to the real needs and capacities of the regions.

Mr Droba calls for the metropolitan dimension to be incorporated into EU cohesion policy after 2020: "To make sure investment priorities are properly set, the regions have to be more fully involved – for all policy objectives – in drafting the partnership agreements and the operational programmes themselves." The opinion will be put to the vote at the CoR plenary session of 4 and 5 December and, if adopted, will be submitted to the relevant European institutions as the official position of Europe's municipalities and regions.

​With a view to inputting the metropolitan dimension into the ongoing review of the EU's territorial and urban agendas, the COTER commission agreed to Mr Droba's proposal to hold a seminar in Bratislava on The future of metropolitan regions: their position and challenges post 2020. This will follow up on the opinion and provide an opportunity for discussion among experts and politicians at EU level and from the ranks of metropolitan regions and mayors. The aim of the seminar is, in conjunction with the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development (REGI), to respond to the latest developments in the run-up to the implementation of the EU funds after 2020. It will be held in Bratislava in spring 2020.