A study – commissioned by the CoR and presented during the commission meeting – analysed the application of the principles of partnership and multi-level governance in cohesion policy programming 2021-2027. These two principles are key features for the programming and implementation of cohesion policy as they enhance the delivery of cohesion policy programs by providing ownership and making investments place-based.

The results of the study showed:

that the involvement of partners, which include public authorities at national local and regional levels, economic and social partners as well as bodies representing civil society, is only slowly improving in comparison to the 2014-2020 programming period;
that the potential of partnerships is not fully utilized and that the mobilization of relevant stakeholders remains a key challenge;
that the digital solutions implemented because of COVID-19 restrictions can have positive effects on stakeholder involvement and that an increased use of digital solutions for stakeholder involvement could help ensure that partnerships live up to their potential.

The findings of the study will feed into an own-initiative opinion on engaging local and regional authorities in the preparation of partnership agreements and operational programs during the 2021-2027 period, for which Juraj Droba (SK/ECR), President of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, was appointed rapporteur during the meeting.

COTER members also appointed Agnès Rampal (FR/EPP), Vice-President of the Metropole Nice-Côte d’Azur and Vice-Mayor of Nice, as rapporteur for the opinion titled “Towards a macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean” and Donatella Porzi (IT/PES), Regional Councilor for the Region of Umbria, for an opinion on the gender dimension of structural and cohesion funds 2021-2027, with a focus on the preparation of operational programs.