April 22, 2026
The “Friends of Cohesion Meeting”, an important forum for discussing the future of EU regional investments and the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, took place in Warsaw on 22 April 2026.
The meeting aimed to strengthen the coalition’s position ahead of negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget, ensuring that the interests of regions and Member States are reflected in future European investment strategies. Discussions also focused on aligning cohesion policy with the EU’s new priorities, particularly competitiveness and defence.
Participants emphasized the need for a substantially increased long-term budget, while also calling for greater flexibility during implementation and opposing overly rigid regulations that could hinder absorption capacity.
The meeting further highlighted the importance of preserving the territorial dimension of cohesion policy to ensure it remains an effective tool for development.
