Within the context of preparing its opinion on the European Commission’s Fifth Report on the implementation of EU macro-regional strategies, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held a public debate on 20 November 2025 in Brussels. The event, entitled Connecting Regions: Macro-Regional Strategies and National and Regional Partnership Plans in Action, was chaired by Elena Calistru, President of the ECO Section.
During the discussion, Miklos Barabas, Director of European House Budapest, posed a central question: what distinctive value can civil society organisations (CSOs) bring to this debate? Three key areas emerged. First, many citizens’ concerns can be addressed more effectively at the macro-regional level than within national frameworks, demonstrating the need to apply subsidiarity in a practical way. Second, the partnership principle must be reinforced, as CSOs are well placed to identify opportunities for collaboration – both to strengthen macro-regional strategies (MRS) and to shape the future of cohesion policy. Third, increasing sensitivity to social issues is essential. Fostering a stronger sense of public ownership is particularly important in areas such as housing, healthcare, public services and education. Concrete progress in these fields directly shapes public perception and helps make EU policies more visible, tangible and relevant to daily life.
Claudia Singer-Smith, Priority Area Coordinator for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), highlighted several considerations for the upcoming negotiations on cohesion policy after 2027. She proposed embedding a macro-regional dimension more firmly within the new framework, enhancing the alignment of Interreg programmes with cooperation and investment needs, and strengthening institutional capacity-building for all stakeholders at every level. These measures aim to support multi-level governance and to reaffirm the partnership principle throughout the planning and implementation of the next cohesion policy cycle. Within this context, macro-regional strategies offer place-based strategic guidance for policymakers.
Moray Gilland, Head of Unit at DG REGIO in the European Commission, stressed the strong connection between macro-regional strategies and national and regional partnership plans. He underlined the important role of MRS institutions, including programme managing authorities, as intermediaries that help stakeholders better understand funding opportunities, priorities and objectives. The Commission also reiterated that political commitment is crucial to advancing macro-regional strategies, noting that such engagement fosters greater civil society participation. A clear message was conveyed: macro-regional strategies will remain a feature of EU cooperation, having been established by the European Council – the Union’s highest political authority.
Sofia Pournara, representative of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, focused on linking regional cooperation with inclusive growth and EU enlargement. She also emphasised the importance of cross-border mobility, sustainable transport networks and youth involvement.
Overall, the debate brought to light the significant potential that lies in deeper civil society engagement in shaping and implementing EU macro-regional strategies. The EESC’s work programme Civil Society at the Heart of Europe, together with the Commission’s proposal for an EU Civil Society Strategy, mark encouraging steps forward. These initiatives allow CSOs to position themselves in a mutually beneficial role – contributing meaningfully to both macro-regional strategies and the evolution of cohesion policy.
The full recording of the EESC public debate is available here.
