Where the law stands, Dossier 2024/2106(INI)
Possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 10 September 2025. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 28 November 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 25 June 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 11 July 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 10 September 2025
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
10 September 2025 · decision 14
EU budget & funds, Resolution
Possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds
Adopted 513 for · 111 against · 40 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The text calls for reducing administrative burdens, promoting a bottom-up approach, and ensuring funds remain focused on their core objectives.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The versions differ only in formal points: punctuation and decimal separator are updated.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The new version substantially expands the report, adding many new recitals and paragraphs on topics such as the rule of law, gender mainstreaming, and audit. It also rephrases the opening recital to emphasize that cohesion funds must remain reserved for their primary objectives.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Regional Development
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Vladimir Prebilič (Greens)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Fredis Beleris (EPP), Klára Dobrev (S&D), Klara Dostalova (Patriots), Waldemar Buda (ECR), Raquel García Hermida-Van der Walle (Renew), Kathleen Funchion (The Left), Irmhild Bossdorf (ESN)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Budgetary Control· rapporteurJacek Protas (EPP)
- Budgets· rapporteurIsabel Benjumea Benjumea (EPP)
- Employment and Social Affairs· rapporteurMarit Maij (S&D)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 10 Sept 2025
AI summary:Parliament's resolution on simplifying cohesion funds stresses that simplification must not undermine cohesion policy's core goals of reducing disparities and supporting long-term investment.
Tabled for plenary· 11 Jul 2025
AI summary:The report calls for simplifying cohesion funds while preserving their core principles, such as shared management and partnership, and warns against diverting funds to crises.
Committee draft· 24 Feb 2025
AI summary:This draft report on possibilities for simplification of cohesion funds recalls the role of cohesion policy, acknowledges existing simplifications, and makes recommendations for the future.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (CONT), Opinion (BUDG), Draft opinion (BUDG), Opinion (CONT)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 3 steps
10 September 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 10 Sept 2025 Report A10-0138/2025Adopted text TA10-0188/2025
9 September 2025
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
Sitting of 9 Sept 2025 Report A10-0137/2025Report A10-0138/2025Report A10-0139/2025
11 July 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 9 steps
25 June 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
REGI (Regional Development) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
4 June 2025
BUDG (Budgets) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
14 May 2025
CONT (Budgetary Control) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
9 April 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
3 April 2025
Draft opinion from BUDG (Budgets)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
28 March 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of REGI (Regional Development) proposed changes to the draft.
17 March 2025
Draft opinion from CONT (Budgetary Control)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
24 February 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in REGI (Regional Development). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
28 November 2024
Referred to the REGI (Regional Development) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; CONT (Budgetary Control), BUDG (Budgets), EMPL (Employment and Social Affairs) give an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2024/2106(INI)