Press remarks by Executive Vice-President Fitto on the opening of the European Week of Regions and Cities

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning, and welcome.

I am very pleased to open the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026.

First of all, I would like to thank President Tüttő for being here today.

Kata, it is a pleasure to welcome you to the European Commission.

For the next three days, Brussels becomes the home of Europe's regions and cities.

Thousands of representatives from regions, cities and local authorities, together with experts, businesses and civil society, are here to meet, to discuss and to exchange.

This afternoon, we will open the Week in the hemicycle of the European Parliament, with President Metsola, President Costa and former Commissioner Katainen, together with representatives of the Committee of the Regions.

Tomorrow, at the Committee of the Regions, we will hold high-level sessions, including one on the Right to Stay.

On Wednesday, at the Square, we will discuss how Cohesion Policy can help build a more competitive Union.

And at the end of the Week, the REGIOSTARS Awards will recognise the best cohesion projects from across Europe.

A changing world, a changing Europe

We meet at a moment of deep change.

The world is changing. Europe is changing. Our territories are changing.

Worldwide, we see geopolitical tensions, economic pressure, rapid technological change and demographic challenges.

Europe is working to protect its citizens, its economy, its prosperity and its security in a much harder world.

And our regions and territories are going through transitions that open new opportunities, while asking us to make sure that every place can benefit from them.

Europe is reacting

In this unpredictable world, Europe is not standing still. Europe is acting.

We are using the tools we already have, with pragmatism and determination, to shape the future of the Union.

Our goal is clear: Europe must never again find itself behind in development, or dependent on others for what is essential.

Europe has learned the lesson.

We learned it during the pandemic, and we learned it with the energy crisis.

We learned that we are stronger when the European, national and regional levels work together.

This is what we will talk about this week: the future, and how to build strength that lasts.

Our answer: simplification and effectiveness

The world is complex and it moves fast. Our answer is simplification, flexibility and effectiveness.

This is our recipe to make regions stronger, and Europe stronger.

Simplification, flexibility and efficiency have guided our work to modernise Cohesion Policy.

First, with the mid-term review.

We gave Member States the possibility, on a voluntary basis, to redirect resources to today's priorities: housing, competitiveness, defence, energy and water.

The response from the ground was remarkable.

Territories chose to reallocate close to 35 billion euros.

This showed us that flexibility and simplification are the right direction to modernise Cohesion Policy.

Second, with the territorial strategies we adopted this year: for the regions on the eastern border, for cities, for islands, for the outermost regions, and our work on the Right to Stay.

Each territory is different. Each needs answers that fit its reality.

All this work leads to the next Multiannual Financial Framework, where a modernised, more efficient and more flexible Cohesion Policy, able to respond to the needs of citizens, will be a central part of the National and Regional Partnership Plans.

Strong regions, strong Europe

'Strong Regions. Strong Europe'. It is a broad message.

This week we focus on two directions.

The first is the Right to Stay.

We are working on a strategy, and our dialogue is intense, not only with regions, but directly with citizens.

In some European villages, the post office or the bank is open only two days a week.

Health services are hours away.

Young people leave because they see no future at home.

No one should be forced to leave their community because services have disappeared, because there are no good jobs, because housing is too expensive or because connectivity is poor.

People should be free to leave, but never forced to leave. We are working to give these people more opportunities where they live.

The second direction is competitiveness.

Competitiveness is the other side of cohesion.

Europe cannot be competitive if part of its territory is left behind.

Cohesion means giving every territory the tools to grow and develop: infrastructure, skills, innovation, good jobs.

Here again, we learn from the mid-term review, through which 15 billion euros were redirected to competitiveness. Competitiveness is a demand that comes directly from our territories, from the ground.

This is what we intend to do: help every territory unlock its full potential, because a strong Europe is built in its regions.

Ladies and gentlemen, a long and intense week lies ahead of us. We look forward to seeing you at the debates.

Thank you, and I wish you all a very good week.