February 20, 2026
As part of the meeting of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) Political Bureau, the second policy session on Cohesion Policy was held in Nicosia on 19-20 February 2026, during which the members sent strong signals to the European Institutions: the proposed EU budget for 2028-2034 risks weakening Europe’s territories and undermining the Union’s cohesion, resilience and competitiveness. The need to secure an EU Budget that delivers for its regions was the clear priority stemming from the session, with perspectives shared not only by CPMR members, but also from the European Parliament and the Cyprus Presidency.
Anthi Philippidou, Director of Growth, Ministry of Finance, highlighted the work of the Cypriot presidency on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the importance of timely adoption of a negotiation box. “As we adapt to new realities, we must ensure that we do not weaken the structural foundations of the Union. Economic, social and territorial cohesion remains a Treaty objective. It is not secondary to Europe’s strategic agenda: it is part of it” she added.
The Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Michalis Hadjipantela emphasised that the European Parliament is aligned on the need for a bottom-up Cohesion Policy: “These discussions are not a matter of technical or financial negotiation, they are political choices with long-lasting implications for all regions. They are a political statement about Europe’s priorities.”
The CPMR will remain fully engaged throughout the negotiations to make sure the final MFF reflects Europe’s territorial diversity and long-term ambition.
