Green Deal Going Local working group calls for more clarity on green spending in the next long-term EU budget

Members of the CoR's Green Deal Going Local working group are calling the EU co-legislators to ensure that climate, energy and environmental priorities are adequately integrated across the next long-term EU budget so that they support the clean transition at local and regional level. This was the key topic discussed at the meeting on 25 March. Green Deal Going Local working group chair Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), local councillor of Espoo, underlined that the current energy crisis confirms the need to continue investing in energy independence and climate resilience.

The European Commission's proposal for the next long-term EU budget (2028-2034) sets a general 35% climate and environment spending target across the different programmes, meaning that over €700 billion would be mobilized to support climate and environmental objectives. However, Green Deal Going Local working group members regretted the lack of a dedicated programme focused on environment and climate action and accessible to local and regional stakeholders, such as LIFE in the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) - combining funds for both regional development and common agricultural policy - would be the key tool to support local communities and businesses in the clean transition. While 43% of the NRPP should contribute to the climate and environment spending target, working group members expressed doubts about the realistic implementation of the objective in different sectors, such as agriculture, and warned against the risk of greenwashing.

These concerns were shared by Cristina Guarda (IT/Greens/EFA), European Parliament's rapporteur on strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy. MEP Guarda regretted the lack of clear objectives and indicators in support of rural development, also against the increasing impacts of climate change. Radim Sršeň (CZ/EPP), CoR rapporteur on Future of the Rural Development 2028+, pointed out the need of tailor-made solutions for each region, respecting environmental targets.

The MFF proposal also includes a so-called 'do no significant harm' principle to ensure that EU-funded activities do not significantly harm climate and environmental goals, and aims to simplify the tracking of expenditure related to climate action and environmental protection. However, Luca Menesini (IT/PES), CoR rapporteur for the new performance framework regulation, warned that this could instead lead to more red tape for local and regional authorities. He also called to focus more on the qualitative nature of the indicators, because excessively rigid qualitative measurements risk lowering the level of ambition for climate and environment action.

The CoR's Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) will adopt its draft opinion on the climate, environment and energy aspects of the next MFF at its next meeting on 22 April. The rapporteur is Rafal Trzaskowski (PL/EPP), Mayor of Warsaw.

Members of the Green Deal Going Local working group also exchanged views on the EU Agenda for Cities with CoR rapporteur Kieran McCarthy (IE/EA) and representatives of Eurocities and Covenant of Mayors. They also adopted the Green Deal Going Local working group roadmap 2026-2027 after a discussion with experts from the Joint Research Centre.