During the COTER meeting on 5 February 2026, members of the European Alliance (EA) Group reaffirmed a shared conviction: European policies only truly matter when citizens can see and feel their impact in their daily lives. As rapporteur Kieran McCarthy stressed, an immense amount of work is being carried out at EU level, but its value must be communicated more clearly to demonstrate the tangible benefits of cooperation and cohesion across Europe’s territories.
Cross-border cooperation was at the heart of the discussions. EA President Nanette Maupertuis pointed to the European Commission’s forthcoming communication, expected before the summer, as a key opportunity to strengthen this agenda. Preparatory work is already well underway, including a hearing organised by the European Economic and Social Committee on 20 June and ongoing exchanges within the Committee of the Regions. Maupertuis highlighted the contribution of the Working Group on Islands, which she chairs, and called for timely and meaningful amendments to ensure that Treaty provisions are not only recognised but effectively applied in practice, particularly for territories that too often face delays or insufficient follow-up.
The debate on the NRRP Fund Regulation also drew strong reactions. McCarthy welcomed the depth and quality of the opinion but voiced clear concerns about the risk of inadvertently endorsing national management plans that raise serious questions. He underlined that the Committee’s position must remain clear and consistent: positive elements should be recognised, but shortcomings must also be addressed transparently. Maupertuis noted that the rapporteurs had managed to defend long-standing cohesion principles while adapting proposals to reflect the diverse economic and geographic realities of Europe’s regions — a balance that will require continued close cooperation with the European Parliament.
Discussions on the ERDF, including European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) and the Cohesion Fund, further reinforced these themes. Maupertuis thanked members for strengthening the emphasis on ETC and called for a clearer recognition of its importance for regions facing structural and geographic constraints. McCarthy, in turn, questioned the level of engagement between the European Commission and national governments and expressed hope for more effective and structured dialogue with ERDF representatives.
On the future Connecting Europe Facility (2028–2034), McCarthy noted that regional authorities currently play too limited a role, describing the opinion as an eye-opener in terms of identifying missed opportunities. He welcomed the focus on “last-mile connections” and the stronger links being developed between CEF and the European Regional Development Fund, while urging the European Parliament to listen carefully to the Committee’s voice. Maupertuis illustrated the complexity of connectivity challenges from the perspective of travelling through Sardinia, reminding members that maritime borders are real borders. For remote and island regions, she stressed, connectivity — including potential synergies between civilian and military infrastructure — requires coordinated and forward-looking solutions.
Finally, on the Y-Factor project, McCarthy welcomed the decision to address the issue within committees rather than at plenary level, bringing the debate closer to practical realities on the ground. He noted that the directness of the testimonies made a strong impression, with urgent concerns such as access to housing repeatedly highlighted. While acknowledging the limits of his role as rapporteur, he expressed his determination to ensure that these voices continue to inform and shape his work.