European Week of Regions and Cities focuses on cohesion and cooperation

The European Week of Regions and Cities, held in Brussels, brought together approximately 5,000 representatives from cities, regions, the European Commission, and civil society to discuss the future of European territories and cohesion policy.

Discussions centered on the balance between investing in competitiveness—such as defense and artificial intelligence—and supporting weaker or more remote regions. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Raffaele Fitto emphasized the ‘right to stay,’ noting that residents in smaller areas must have access to healthcare, transport, housing, and digital connectivity so they are not forced to migrate.

European Committee of the Regions President Kata Tutto warned that investments should not become ‘blind to space,’ arguing that while Europe seeks to increase competitiveness, it must also return benefits to weaker regions to avoid becoming wealthier but less connected. European Council President António Costa identified three priorities for the future budget: accessibility to housing, energy, and mobility; competitiveness through simplified regulations; and a new multi-annual financial framework.

In a related seminar selected by the European Committee of the Regions, the Brno Metropolitan Area presented practical tools for intermunicipal cooperation. The session focused on how cities and surrounding municipalities can effectively collaborate across administrative boundaries to develop functional urban areas, utilizing strategies from the MECOG-CE project to improve mobility, participatory processes, and food cooperation.