Submission and examination
The 'Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures' initiative was submitted to the European Commission on 4 March 2025, after having gathered 1,269,351 verified statements of support. See European Commission news.
On 25 March 2025, the initiative organisers were given the opportunity to present the objectives of their initiative in the meeting with Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and European Commission officials, in line with Article 15 of the ECI Regulation. See the photo news.
The presentation of this initiative in a public hearing at the European Parliament took place on 25 June 2025. The organisers provided details about their objectives and the Members of the European Parliament exchanged views on this initiative. Watch the recording.
A debate on this initiative was held in the plenary session of the European Parliament on 10 July 2025. See the video recording.
The Commission adopted a Communication on 3 September 2025 setting out its response to this initiative. See the Commission's news.
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Answer of the European Commission
Main conclusions of the Communication
The Commission carefully analysed the citizens' proposals and concluded that while some proposals fall outside of EU competence, as they would interfere with the existing constitutional setup of the concerned Member States, others are already covered under the current Cohesion policy thanks to its robust safeguards promoting inclusion and equal treatment of minorities, as well as the respect for cultural and linguistic diversity.
Consequently, no new legislation will be proposed in response to this ECI. However, the Commission will continue to ensure non-discriminatory access to Union funding and to monitor as well as support Member States' actions to guarantee equal treatment in the implementation of Cohesion policy.
For the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the Commission has proposed a strengthened and modernised cohesion and growth policy that ensures adequate mechanisms are in place in Member States to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights throughout the implementation of the national and regional partnership plans, as well as respect for the principles of the rule of law. Where a Member State fails to fulfil these conditions, the Commission will withhold the corresponding payments.
