Brussels, 19 February 2025
[Check against delivery]
It is a great pleasure to stand before you today. I would like to congratulate you on the start of the new mandate, at this first plenary session. As you know, I take a lot of pride in having been a member of this committee. Having been a mayor of Lisbon, a member of this committee, are experiences that continue to shape me.
Our cities, towns, and regions – from mountain regions to the great metropolitan areas, from the outermost regions to our centers – are critical to our success. To our policies. To navigating crises. To delivering for our citizens. Our cities, towns, regions and rural landscapes represent Europe’s diversity – its varied histories, its different geographies, its diverse economic and governance models.
But, most importantly, they are closest to the people. Local and regional governments understand their citizens’ needs, their challenges, and their hopes for the future. They provide essential services. They tailor policies to local conditions. They channel citizens’ concerns into policymaking. They have, in fact, the highest trust among citizens. As the Eurobarometer shows. This is why subsidiarity and multilevel governance are key principles of European architecture.
The European Union is living a defining moment. Today, we are being tested in unprecedented ways. By geopolitics, by the economic situation, by a sense of disconnect between citizens and leaderships. We need local and regional governments – we need the trust you can build from the bottom to the top – for our unity and cohesion. For our ability to deliver. Deliver on Europe’s defence and security. On Europe’s prosperity. On Europe’s democratic renewal.
First, Europe’s defence and security. Russia’s war against Ukraine has been an act of aggression. Causing humanitarian suffering. But also threatening European security. Ukraine is an existential issue for European security. Nothing about the war against Ukraine can be decided without Ukraine. And we need a just and lasting peace.
Nothing about European security can be decided without the Europeans. And we need to step up our efforts to build a Europe of Defence. Europe’s defence and security are about the capabilities we jointly need to build. About the mobilisation of the funding we need to raise. About strengthening our partnerships for a lasting security.
But Europe’s defence and security are also about local communities. Europe’s defence and security is also about your work. The European Union will be strong and successful only if we all act together. Because the situation demands urgency. Because we need a mindset of European defence on every level in Europe.
And because new investments into defence can also create jobs and develop our regions, our cities, our communities. New investments into defence will mean more territorial integration, more regional development, more employment. We need new investments in defence in an integrated way, while building a safe European supply chains network, energy autonomy and an innovative industry. This is how we boost our economies. This is how we also contribute to new job creation and territorial cohesion. To be clear. Is not just to ensure that investments on defence no harm cohesion. We need cohesion in all policies, also on defence.
Second, Europe’s competitiveness. The European Union’s promise of shared prosperity is at the heart of our project. It is a promise that we ensure Europe’s strength and resilience with inclusive and sustainable growth and global partnerships. A promise that Europe has quality jobs, technology leadership, world-class companies, world-class research and world-class skilled workers alike.
A promise to the young generation that they will be better off than the previous one. And a promise that makes the European Union attractive to so many candidate countries and partners around the world.
But we all know of the questions lingering over our shared prosperity promise. About our innovation gap. About our productivity gap. About administrative burdens. About decarbonisation. About strategic dependencies. We cannot give up on our ambition to tackle climate action. But we know that we need to address the concerns of our citizens, companies and farmers. The success of this existential transition depends on our ability to mobilize citizens for change.
2025 needs to be the year when we deliver on competitiveness. We owe it to our citizens. Cities, countryside and regions are at the heart of Europe’s inclusive growth agenda. Cities, countryside and regions drive innovation. Local governments are often the ones that can tap the potential of local innovation ecosystems. That can facilitate concrete initiatives, good location conditions and growth of new industries.
Cities and regions are also best placed to address the housing crisis. Ensuring that affordable housing is made available to all, especially the young generation. This is how we tackle the root causes of social inequality. This is how we make sure that our quest for competitiveness is in fact a quest for shared prosperity.
Multi-level governance is the foundation on which we can build a stronger, more prosperous Europe for everyone. The upcoming debate on the next Multiannual Financial Framework is a perfect example. It is about the European Union’s strength and cohesion. It is about addressing problems that vary between Member States and regions. Ensuring tailor-made reforms and investments. This was the position this Committee has taken last November, a clear set of principles for multilevel governance to be considered.
This is why the logic introduced in NextGenerationEU is also good for the future: clear targets, clear timelines, unlocking funds when objectives are reached. And this is why we should look at the next EU budget with an open mind and consider cohesion and growth policy together. It makes sense. Cohesion policy should contribute to competitiveness. And competitiveness should contribute to cohesion. In fact, we need to have cohesion as a common goal to all European policies.
It is clear: in addressing the challenges we face, we need trust of our citizens. Trust that we need to do more for our defence. Trust that we can defend them. Trust that we have their backs. Trust that we are honest, transparent and fair. Trust that we can restore the prosperity promise. Trust that our institutions and democracies solve their problems.
Effective multi-level governance is needed to tackle our most important challenges. And effective multi-level governance is what will allow for democratic renewal. It is the efforts of every region, every local community, and every citizen that build a stronger European Union. On defence, on prosperity, on democratic renewal. I count on the Committee of the Regions. I count on regional and city governments. The geopolitical context demands it. Thank you.
Source – European Council