Mobilise now to make the next EU budget work for cities and regions

The European Commission’s draft of the EU budget for the period 2028-2034 poses a serious challenge for municipalities and regions across the Union. As discussions move forward, a key question emerges: how can local and regional actors help shape a budget that truly delivers on the ground? Energy Cities, together with other networks, is actively advocating for change – and you can add your voice to this effort. 

Why advocate? Fighting a dangerous centralisation trend  

The discussion around the EU budget (known as the MFF – Multiannual Financial Framework) is not only about the amount of the envelope. The true impact of the proposal lies in the financing rules that govern the EU’s flagship programmes: Cohesion Policy (ERDF), the Just Transition Fund, ESF+, Erasmus+, LIFE, Horizon Europe, INTERREG and many others.  

These instruments are the lifeblood of daily work in municipalities and regions: they fund infrastructure, research, training, and the very projects that make the EU’s climate neutrality target for 2050 achievable. However, to be effective, they need to be place-based, and to be shaped by the actors who implement them – local and regional governments. 

Yet the current proposal centralises decision-making by merging several EU funds into 27 National and Regional Plans, managed by national governments. With only a handful of nationally‑drawn plans, national governments will have broad discretion over priorities and funding allocation, with no binding requirement to involve cities or regions, who actually implement more than 70 % of EU legislation.  

This centralisation threatens the effectiveness, territorial balance and democratic legitimacy of EU spending—especially at a moment when robust, place‑based investment is essential to meet the EU’s 2030 climate goals and the 2050 climate‑neutrality ambition. Also, for the EU to be competitive, it needs to trust and reinforce its local and regional levels, as the services and infrastructures they provide are the basis of the European competitiveness. 

Fighting this trend calls for coordinated and joint efforts. Energy Cities joined forces with 7 other networks of local and regional authorities to speak as the Local Alliance. As part of this Alliance, we’ve strengthened our advocacy efforts and published a 10-points Action Plan, as well as produced joint amendments to the MFF texts.  

What to advocate? Tools for effective advocacy at national level 

However, advocating the MFF cannot be done only at European level, as the budget position is mostly decided at capitals level. Strong advocacy at the national level is crucial. By influencing ministries, permanent representations and national managing authorities, municipalities can ensure that the next EU budget remains a catalyst for local climate action, sustainable development and democratic participation. 

To help local and regional governments in this advocacy efforts, Energy Cities has produced a Mobilisation Kit which contains:  

• Main messages and demands; 

• The list of Amendments to both the National and Regional Partnerships Plans (NRPPs) and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF); 

• Letter templates for both National Ministries for the NRPPs and MEPs for the ECF; and 

• A list of key MEPs to reach out to.  

Through the Mobilisation Kit, local and regional governments have additional tools for their activities. For example, they can use the letter template as a basis for a single open letter from municipalities to be sent to relevant Ministries as a joint statement. Or they can use the main requests as the foundation of op-eds in national newspaper, including quotes and concrete figures to highlight the local consequences of the current budget proposal. 

Who to target? Tailoring your focus to different ministries 

At national level, the most important action is to contact ministries working on the next EU budget, as they shape the country’s position in the Council negotiations. Sharing our messages with them, adapting them to the national context, is essential to show the devastating impact of the current proposal and how it could be improved.  

Between the different Ministries, it’s fundamental to target the Ministry of Finance, Treasury or Economy, as it oversees the overall national position at the council and will then draft the National Plan. It is useful to show the economically negative impact of the proposal with concrete figures, showcasing example of how the centralisation of Plans was not effective (for example with the Recovery and Resilience Facility Plan) and how municipal and regional involvement was, at the contrary, economically beneficial.  

Another central Ministry in the process is the one in charge of the Environment, Climate and or the transition. It oversees the national climate‑policy integration and the allocation of funds such as the European Competitiveness Fund. Showing how local projects can deliver EU climate targets faster and cheaper than top‑down programmes is key to obtain more access for local and regional governments. 

Finally, the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion or Regional Development can be a strong ally, especially in smaller countries. Concrete examples of successful local projects that contributes to national goals (such as the National Energy and Climate Plans) are needed to shift the angle and stop the centralisation process. 

Where to advocate? Going beyond the capitals, building alliances 

Other than the Ministries in the capital, key contact persons in the governments work at the Permanent Representations in Brussels. For example, the energy attaché works on the European Competitiveness Fund, while the budget, cohesion and agriculture attachés follow the National and Regional Partnership Plan. Most representations also have a dedicated person for the MFF negotiations. All of them are central in the process, and sharing with them municipalities’ requests is extremely effective as well. 

An important ally is the current Managing Authorities for Cohesion Policy. Getting in touch with them is key to start building synergies and working together to shape regional, territorial or urban chapters. Propose to organise joint activities on the topic, such as study visits for national decision-makers showcasing the local impact of place-based projects. 

To shape the national position, municipalities can use their national associations. Mobilising them is the most effective way to obtain visibility and raise the issue, as they have established contacts with Ministries and can amplify individual municipal voices.  

But national governments are not the only one with a say on the budget. The European Parliament will have to approve the proposal. That is the reason why reaching out to MEPs is essential. The committees on Industry, Energy & Transport, Budgets, and Regional Development will be the most important ones.  

MEPs are not only co-legislators, but also important allies. Tailoring the message to each MEP’s priorities will be key, as well as using all the tools available. From one-page briefs to joint letters, from site visits to targeted social media posts, from amendments drafting to public hearings, municipalities and regions can effectively engage MEPs for a place-based budget. 

Energy Cities prepared a list of key influential MEPs and will meet them. However, joint meetings with municipalities are extremely effective as well, as they allow to highlight how the MFF impacts cities and towns, while presenting our demands.  

Understanding what is at stake 

To better coordinate the efforts, Energy Cities is also organising The MFF & You, a monthly Webinar initiative, which serves as a space for both information and discussion for its members. 

The next appointment will be February 12th, from 11.00 to 12.30 CET. This time, we are organising the Webinar with the Prospect Cube project and opening it to non-members as well. 

The webinar will unpack what is at stake in the negotiations on the next EU budget and explore the potential impacts on local and regional authorities. Together, we will discuss what needs to change to ensure EU funding continues to support the local energy transition. 

The Webinar will look at questions such as “What could National and Regional Partnership Plans look like?”; “Will subnational governments be able to access the European Competitiveness Fund?” and “What is the future of the LIFE programme?”. It will be then the opportunity to discuss the impact of the proposal on municipalities and regions.