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European Parliament Committee on Regional Development

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Committee on Regional Development
AbbreviationREGI
TypeStanding committee
LegislatureEuropean Parliament
Parliamentary term10th European Parliament
ChairDragoș Benea
S&D, Romania
Vice-ChairsGabriella Gerzsenyi (EPP)
Nora Mebarek (S&D)
Francesco Ventola (ECR)
Ľubica Karvašová (Renew)
Members41
Political compositionEPP: 11 · S&D: 8 · ECR: 4 · Renew: 4 · PfE: 5 · Greens/EFA: 3 · The Left: 3 · ESN: 1 · NI: 2
JurisdictionRegional and cohesion policy, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, territorial cooperation and the outermost regions
CounterpartGeneral Affairs Council
WebsiteOfficial website

The Committee on Regional Development (REGI) is a standing committee of the European Parliament. It is responsible for the European Union's regional and cohesion policy, including the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, territorial cooperation, urban and rural territorial development and the Union's outermost regions.[1]

The committee examines how EU funding is used to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between regions. It also scrutinises the design and implementation of cohesion-policy programmes and the effect of other Union policies on regional development.[1]

Responsibilities

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REGI is responsible for regional-development and cohesion policy as provided for in the Treaties. Its work includes legislation governing the structural funds, the Cohesion Fund, European territorial cooperation and measures addressing the specific needs of regions facing geographical, demographic or economic disadvantages.[2]

Its remit includes:

  • the European Regional Development Fund;
  • the Cohesion Fund;
  • the territorial dimension of the European Social Fund Plus;
  • Interreg and other forms of European territorial cooperation;
  • economic, social and territorial cohesion;
  • urban and rural territorial development;
  • regions affected by industrial transition;
  • sparsely populated, mountainous, island and border regions;
  • the Union's outermost regions;
  • cooperation with regional and local authorities;
  • the territorial effects of other EU policies; and
  • relations with the European Committee of the Regions, interregional organisations and local-government associations.[2]

Cohesion policy

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Cohesion policy is the European Union's principal investment policy for reducing disparities between regions and supporting balanced territorial development. It finances infrastructure, business development, innovation, environmental projects, social inclusion and the transition to a climate-neutral and digital economy.[3]

REGI acts as Parliament's lead committee for the regulations governing the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and Interreg. It also examines the common rules applying to cohesion-policy funds and monitors negotiations between the Commission, member states and regional authorities.[4][5]

Territorial cooperation and regional challenges

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The committee deals with cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation through the Interreg programmes. These programmes support joint projects between regions in different member states and neighbouring countries in fields such as transport, environmental protection, public services, innovation and emergency preparedness.[6]

REGI also examines the effects of population decline, ageing, geographical isolation, industrial transition and unequal access to public services. Particular attention is given to border regions, islands, mountainous areas, sparsely populated territories and the outermost regions.[1]

Implementation and oversight

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The committee monitors the implementation of cohesion programmes and may organise hearings, missions and exchanges of views with the European Commission, national governments, regional authorities and beneficiaries. It examines delays, administrative burdens, audit requirements and the effectiveness of EU-funded projects.[1]

REGI also considers how cohesion funding contributes to wider Union priorities, including climate action, energy transition, digitalisation, transport connectivity, social inclusion and recovery from economic or natural disasters.[7]

Chairs

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The following table lists the chairs of the committee since 2004.

Name Political group Member state Took office Left office
Gerardo Galeote EPP–ED Spain Spain 2004 2009
Danuta Hübner EPP Poland Poland 2009 2014
Iskra Mihaylova ALDE Bulgaria Bulgaria 2014 2019
Younous Omarjee GUE/NGL France France 2019 2024
Dragoș Benea S&D Romania Romania 2024 Incumbent[8]

Members

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10th Parliament, 2024–2029

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The committee currently has 41 full members. Its current composition is shown below, with the chair and vice-chairs indicated in italics.[8]

European People's Party Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats European Conservatives and Reformists Renew Europe
Patriots for Europe Greens–European Free Alliance The Left Europe of Sovereign Nations
Non-Inscrits

Substitute members

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Research support

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The committee is supported by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies. It provides studies, briefings and analyses on cohesion policy, regional disparities, structural funds, territorial cooperation, demographic change, urban development and the specific conditions of individual regions.[9]

Research prepared for the committee is published through Parliament's supporting-analyses database and the European Parliament Think Tank.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "About the Committee on Regional Development". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Powers and responsibilities of the Committee on Regional Development". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Economic, social and territorial cohesion". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "European Regional Development Fund". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cohesion Fund". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "European territorial cooperation". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Cohesion policy 2021–2027". European Commission. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "Members – Committee on Regional Development". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Supporting analyses – REGI". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Latest documents – Supporting analyses – REGI". European Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
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