During today’s plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, ECR Group President Marco Marsilio delivered a strong message on the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in a debate with European Commissioner for Budget, Piotr Serafin, rejecting any attempt to merge cohesion funding with CAP resources. “Centralising these funds would create an artificial and harmful opposition between regions and farmers. This cannot in any way benefit our territories” he stated.
He also welcomed increased investment in three strategic priorities championed by the ECR Group: competitiveness, security, and the protection of the EU’s external borders.

Despite recognising several positive elements in the Commission’s proposal, the ECR President voiced serious concerns about certain aspects of the MFF that risk weakening cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy. Marsilio cautioned against the reduced role of regional authorities in managing cohesion funds. “Regions are the level of government closest to citizens. Weakening their role distances the Union from local priorities and undermines effective investment,” he warned.

While acknowledging that funding for less developed regions has been safeguarded, President Marsilio expressed concern that transition regions and rural areas could be left behind. He called for the extension of safeguard clauses to all three categories of regions: less developed, transition, and more developed regions, to ensure balanced and fair development.

"European citizens are calling ever more clearly for stronger action on security and illegal migration. It is essential that European institutions listen to these demands”. He also highlighted the political relevance of the recent Italian–German cooperation agreement signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which places competitiveness and security at its core. Marsilio concluded by stressing that the EU budget must align with these priorities to prevent Europe’s industrial decline caused by “ideological and reckless choices of the recent past, such as the Green Deal.”