At the beginning of September, the European Parliament resumed its work after the summer recess.
On September 1, a meeting of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) was held, where we discussed the future of European cohesion policy. We discussed the challenges faced by island regions and islands, the effects of heat waves, wildfires, and other natural disasters, and voted on the 2027 budget (which includes funds used to prevent and address the consequences of these natural disasters). The committee also addressed the issue of transparency and traceability of funds from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
On September 2, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) met to vote on important current issues and challenges. Topics discussed included the EU’s general budget, as well as psychosocial risks, stress, and health in the workplace. Particular attention was paid to the performance framework, which will help determine how effectively EU funding supports employment, skills, and social inclusion.
These meetings clearly illustrate the importance of our committees’ work and how closely regional development and social policy are intertwined. EU funding must not only strengthen our regions but also create more opportunities and improve people’s quality of life.