With the new EU term beginning and the next MFF talks approaching, ensuring that cities have a say is crucial. For Europe to build a competitive and sustainable union rooted in our shared democratic values, cities must be genuinely included in the EU policy and budget discussions.

This year has been significant for the EU institutions. It began with the European Parliament elections in spring 2024, followed by the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen for her second term as President of the European Commission. Von der Leyen has since unveiled her political guidelines for the 2024-2029 Commission, and the hearings of the Commissioner-designates have just been concluded, while the final outcome remains to be seen.

During the EU election campaign, I, along with colleagues from the cities of Espoo and Vantaa, met Finnish MEP candidates. We were vocal about the fact that 75 percent of European citizens live in urban areas, where EU policy is ultimately implemented. Cities are also the engines of economic growth and drivers of innovation and sustainable development. Together, we emphasised that only by giving cities a seat at the EU policymaking table, Europe will succeed in building a union that is greener, more digital, socially inclusive, competitive, and grounded in shared democratic values.

It was a great pleasure to meet the Finnish MEPs, including Commissioner-designate Henna Virkkunen, during the European Mayors’ Summit, organised by the Eurocities network on 21-22 October in Strasbourg. The summit presented European cities’ priorities for the coming years to the MEPs and built partnerships that would support cooperation and inform the Commissioners-designate hearings.

Competitiveness is high on the EU agenda, and rightly so. I have the privilege of serving as an Executive Committee member of the Eurocities network and as the Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Industry and Competitiveness. In this role, I have highlighted three priorities: the importance of avoiding over-regulation, the crucial role of a skilled workforce, and the need for ambitious decisions on R&D. Europe needs an enabling framework to make progress on these priority areas and to drive future competitiveness.

In discussions with MEPs from all over Europe, we focused on the upcoming EU budget. The new Commission is expected to propose the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 by July 2025. President von der Leyen’s guidelines call for a more focused, policy-based budget that is impactful, simplified, and aims to revamp financing.

Regarding the EU budget and related reforms, better synergy between different policy areas and financial instruments is essential. However, there is a risk that this simplification could lead to a centralised administration. In this case, the subsidiarity principle, which requires decisions to be made as close to citizens as possible, would not be respected. This would contradict von der Leyen’s commitment to keeping regions and cities at the heart of the EU’s work. In the European Mayors’ Summit in Strasbourg, the mayors and deputy mayors of Finland’s six largest cities emphasised that we need to strengthen the role of cities in future budget discussions. The focus should be on cities and regions, subsidiarity, and partnerships in implementing EU policy.

While the partnership principle and multilevel governance are already established cooperation methods, I would like to see Commissioner-designate Raffaele Fitto take this opportunity to deliver ambitious urban policies that truly address cities’ needs. Von der Leyen has appointed Fitto as the Commissioner-designate for Cohesion Policy and Reforms. His task is not only to reform cohesion policy but also to design an ambitious urban EU policy, which I wholeheartedly welcome. Not only the six largest cities in Finland, but also my colleagues in the Eurocities network, are ready to engage in dialogue. Urban policy must indeed be higher on the EU agenda and integrated into EU policy areas. Modern economic growth is almost equal to urban growth. At the same time, many deprived urban neighbourhoods are in dire need of more resources.

Our joint message during the EU campaign and at the meetings in Strasbourg was that cities need a clear position as beneficiaries and implementers of EU funding. Cities require investments and cooperation in climate action, low-carbon energy, circular economy, accessibility, and transport infrastructure. Achieving this requires a skilled workforce, digitalisation, and solid infrastructure. When European cities thrive, so do the European Union and its citizens.

I wish Commissioner-designate Fitto success with the task at hand, and I congratulate all the new Commissioners as they prepare to assume their roles!