The president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, has inaugurated a new edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities with a speech in which he urged the European Commission not to relegate cohesion policies in the negotiation of the next multiannual financial framework. At the same time, he pointed out the housing crisis, energy transformation, and reduction of bureaucracy as the major challenges facing the continent.
After valuing the work of cities and regions as "essential" for territorial cohesion for "being the closest to citizens," he warned of the challenges they face and encouraged them to "protect their prosperity" in a context marked by "demographic change, climate transition, and energy changes."
These challenges, he emphasized, "require common priorities and determined actions," which he articulated in three blocks, starting with energy.
"Energy prices are central to the equation. The current crisis in the Middle East and its impact on energy supplies require the need for decarbonization and greater efficiency towards independence based on our renewable and nuclear energy sources," he considered.
According to Costa, "the benefits are already seen in regions with more renewables, which enjoy significantly low electricity prices," so he urged to "accelerate the energy transition for a better long-term strategy that guarantees autonomy in Europe and low prices."
Alongside this long-term vision, he referred to immediate problems, a scenario in which "objectives and temporary measures are necessary to protect families and businesses," reminding that the European Commission "has already made some proposals to provide immediate relief."
ENERGY, HOUSING, AND BUREAUCRACY
The president of the European Council has emphasized that the energy transition "is not just about generating renewable energy," but also about "transforming mobility and improving efficiency." In this sense, he called for strengthening public transport, promoting electric vehicles, and expanding the network of charging points, in addition to advancing the energy efficiency of homes, "something that will not be possible without the support of the European Commission."
Costa has also focused on the difficulties of access to rental housing, a phenomenon that impacts "from Copenhagen to Lisbon and from Dublin to Athens" and that "has been one of the main urgent problems for citizens." He has described this crisis as a situation that "affects low incomes, but also the middle class," and has admitted that the scarcity of supply is beginning to "disillusion."
Rental housing, he has recalled, is "a responsibility of national, regional, and local authorities, but the EU can complement efforts and can help." In this line, he has explained that the European Council is already analyzing how to achieve that "the European Union can support efforts through better regulation and more innovation." "We need a response at all levels in this crisis to strengthen social cohesion," he asserts.
Simplifying Bureaucracy
The third line of action proposed by Costa involves "simplifying through better rules and fewer directives" community bureaucracy "to ensure greater consistency and reduce fragmentation in each market."
He has argued that "we need faster, simpler, and more predictable procedures to help businesses invest and grow" and has linked these reforms to the need for a stable financial framework.
For all these priorities, he has insisted that a long-term budget is needed "that responds to the challenges of this historic moment." In his view, "it's not just about numbers," but about a political decision "about the future and the Europe" that must be built "together."
In his speech, he has maintained that "the next long-term budget must kickstart industrial transformation, defense, security, and strategic resilience, and continue supporting cohesion and agricultural policies, the pillars of regional development."
From his position, he has committed to urging "all involved to negotiate with an open mind and the spirit of collective responsibility, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of the year."
"In these turbulent geopolitical times, Europe must be stable and have means to act and unity to face challenges," he has indicated, before emphasizing that "a strong Europe is built from the ground up and through empowered regions."