Making the Next EU Budget Work for Cities and Regions: The Local Alliance’s10-Point Action Plan

The Local Alliance – representing Europe’s leading networks of local and regional governments – has released a 10-point Action Plan for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034). The paper calls for a stronger role for cities and regions in shaping and delivering EU priorities, from climate neutrality and competitiveness to social cohesion and resilience.

With negotiations on the next EU budget already underway, the Local Alliance urges EU institutions to reinforce multilevel governance, improve access to funding for all territories, and ensure that reforms and investments reflect local needs.

The publication presents ten key recommendations:

1. Stronger multilevel governance mechanisms to deliver both reforms and investments
2. Stronger partnership principle for the implementation of the MFF
3. Making regional and territorial chapters of the National and Regional Partnership Plans mandatory, with a clear section on cities
4. Earmarking for a just transition & affordable living for all
5. A real EU programme for cities of all sizes under the proposed EU Facility
6. Safeguarding mechanism for local and regional level to guarantee their access to EU funds
7. Linking performance indicators to EU law implementation and territorial delivery
8. Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe should recognise cities and regions explicitly as innovators and investors
9. Continuing the Mission approach under Horizon Europe
10. Stronger support for accession cities and regions for the future of European cohesion.

Download the position paper to explore the full set of recommendations.

About the Local Alliance

The members of the Local Alliance are: Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (ACR+); The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR); Climate Alliance; Energy Cities; Eurocities; FEDARENE; ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability; POLIS.