BRUSSELS, October 14 — The European Week of Regions and Cities begins this week in Brussels under the motto ‘Strong regions, strong Europe’, bringing together local and national leaders to discuss growth, policy, and Europe’s place in a shifting world. The story begins with meetings across the city and beyond, where mayors, ministers, and officials gather to showcase how cities and regions drive jobs and innovation. At its heart lies the EU Cohesion policy, which channels support to communities aiming to strengthen their economies and public services.
This year’s focus includes competitiveness, security, and the long-term budget that will shape funding for years to come. What unfolded over the days includes a range of high-level discussions.
The European Council took up competitiveness, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the next Multi-annual Financial Framework. Environment ministers met in Luxembourg to review the emissions trading system and prepare for upcoming UN climate and biodiversity summits. Meanwhile, the Council exchanged views on Russia’s war of aggression, hybrid threats targeting the EU, and the situation in the Middle East, alongside debates on enlargement’s impact on EU security and developments in Georgia.
The European Commission held Horizon info days and workshops on creating venture builder roles in universities and research organisations. It also prepared for the Biotech Act II and hosted the 2026 Trade Policy Day to discuss the future of EU trade policy.
The European Parliament hosted the Gulf Cooperation Council speakers’ conference and began preparing for its plenary session later in the month, where MEPs will assess the October European Council meeting, mark the international day for the eradication of poverty, and debate and vote on the 2027 EU budget, the 2028–2034 Erasmus+ programme, Parliament’s demands for COP31, amendments to the Critical Raw Materials Act, and simplification of EU waste legislation and rules on cosmetics, fertiliser, and labelling.
Additional debates covered the Commission’s 2027 work programme, better enforcement of passenger rights, Europe’s high-speed rail connectivity, VAT fraud prevention, and guidelines for member states’ employment policies. Beyond Brussels, a conference in The Hague focused on early integration of applicants for international protection, organised by the European Migration Network Netherlands. A workshop in Brussels on Biotech Act II aimed to strengthen EU industrial biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
A Council meeting in Luxembourg examined rule of law in Hungary under the Article 7 procedure and prepared for the next Multi-annual Financial Framework from 2028 to 2034. Further afield, the EU-Malaysia Business Day 2026 took place in Kuala Lumpur, highlighting Selangor’s role as a hub for European business with over 500 firms operating there.
An online-only session presented the IF26 SME call, a new Innovation Fund initiative for small and medium-sized enterprises featuring simplified applications, reduced information needs, a pass/fail assessment model, lighter reporting, and two annual cut-off dates. As the week concludes, attention turns to how these discussions will translate into action — from funding decisions to policy reforms that could shape life in cities and villages across Europe. What happens next in the corridors of power may well begin in the rooms where regions speak.
