Costa calls for the next EU budget to safeguard cohesion and identifies housing, energy, and less bureaucracy as key challenges.

António Costa, President of the European Council, delivered the opening speech at a new edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities. During his address, Costa urged the European Commission to ensure that the upcoming European Union budget protects and safeguards regional cohesion.

In addition to prioritizing cohesion policy, Costa outlined several key challenges for the bloc, specifically highlighting housing, energy, and the reduction of administrative bureaucracy as critical areas that the EU budget and policies must address.