From "Europe of Regions" to "Europe of Nations"? The Changing Paradigm of the Post-2027 Cohesion Policy Framework

In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2028–2034 period. Alongside the MFF proposal, the draft regulation was also released, initiating a two-year consultation and negotiation process that will culminate in its final adoption by the Council and the European Parliament. This new proposal arrives at a critical juncture for the European Union, as it seeks to redefine its long-term budgetary priorities in a context marked by growing geopolitical instability, the green and digital transitions, and increasing pressures on cohesion and solidarity mechanisms. This paper offers an overview of the evolving debate surrounding the proposed MFF, highlighting both its continuity with and departure from previous frameworks. It focuses in particular on the paradigmatic shift underpinning the Commission’s approach, suggesting that the new MFF marks a definitive transition. from a “Europe of regions” to a “Europe of nations.” In doing so, it critically examines how the proposed financial architecture redistributes political and economic influence across and regions, identifying the apparent winners and losers in this emerging configuration of European integration.