PLATFORMA amends CoR Opinion on the “Localisation of the EU’s Global Gateway”
PLATFORMA successfully suggested amendments to the Committee of the Regions’ Opinion on the “Localisation of the EU’s Global Gateway,” drafted by Jaume Duch Guillot, Minister for European Union and Foreign Action of the Government of Catalonia (Spain), with the contributions of Agustí Fernández de Losada Passols, Secretary for European and Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Government of Catalonia, as expert.
In the amendments adopted on 1st October in the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX), PLATFORMA notably pointed out that local and regional authorities play a key role in implementing the Global Gateway, in particular by ensuring democratic participation, local ownership and sustainable outcomes. PLATFORMA also stressed that it is important for EU delegations to systematically involve municipalities and regions in designing and implementing flagship projects.
Overall, PLATFORMA welcomed this Opinion, which was released at a timely moment with the ongoing negotiations on the future MFF for 2028–2034, including the EU’s Global Gateway, the main topic addressed in the framework of the Opinion.
PLATFORMA and its partners are pleased to see several of their messages echoed in this Opinion, in particular emphasising the key role of local and regional governments as actors in development, rather than just beneficiaries.
Specifically, the text promotes a new regulatory framework for local and regional governments to develop their role as development actors and a budget line dedicated to decentralised development cooperation in the next multiannual financial framework.
On Wednesday 1 October 2025, ahead of the vote, both MEP Hildegard Bentele (Germany – EPP) and Erica Gerretsen (DG INTPA) highlighted that local and regional governments (LRGs) are essential for realising the full potential of the Global Gateway.
They also stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between LRGs and EU Delegations to ensure the initiative’s effectiveness on the ground. Gerretsen further flagged that the 9th Cities and Regions for International Partnerships 2025 forum and the 4th European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Forum of Local and Regional Governments in Bogotá will be particularly relevant and closely linked to this topic and discussion, providing opportunities to share experiences and good practices.
The Opinion was unanimously adopted, and PLATFORMA’s contributions were incorporated into the amendments 3, 14, and 16. It will be formally approved in Plenary on 10-11 December.
(Picture from Generalitat de Catalunya)