Overview
- At their 55th regional conference in Brussels, the eastern state leaders issued a Europe declaration insisting on continued regional decision-making over cohesion allocations.
- They called for targeted consideration in EU rearmament efforts, urging funding criteria that support dual-use technologies, cyber solutions and medical technology in structurally weaker areas.
- Meetings included EU Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin, Cohesion Commissioner Raffaele Fitto and European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber.
- The leaders rejected proposed caps on area-based agricultural payments, arguing larger eastern farm holdings would face disproportionate cuts.
- They warned that shifting distribution to national governments could reduce money reaching regions, and noted Fitto is expected to visit East Germany next year.