Partnership Principle: Shaping the Future of Cohesion Policy Together
The Partnership Principle (PP) is a key element of EU Cohesion Policy and a key mechanism for ensuring participatory and multi-level governance in EU funding, ensuring that national, regional and local authorities, civil society, economic and social partners, and other relevant stakeholders are involved in the design, implementation and monitoring of EU-funded programmes.
The European Union’s proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 marks a substantial shift in the way cohesion and social funds will be programmed and delivered. For the new EU budget, the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) aim to simplify and make EU funding more flexible. However, there are concerns that stronger national coordination could lead to centralisation and reduce the influence of regions and local actors. Meaningful participation of regional and local authorities is therefore essential to ensure that funding responds to territorial needs.
Research by the OECD and European Commission further shows that involving citizens and stakeholders can improve policy design, bring in local knowledge and strengthen trust in public institutions. However, participation needs to be meaningful, adequately resourced and clearly connected to decision-making.
The Partnership Principle is also particularly important for EU enlargement countries, as inclusive and participatory governance can help strengthen institutional capacity and prepare countries for effective participation in EU Cohesion Policy.
The debate around the Partnership Principle draws on a growing body of policy research and analysis.
Further reading on the Partnership Principle and the 2028–2034 EU budget:
And the conversation on the future of cohesion policy does not stop with reading – join us for the 13th Danube Participation Day!
How can the Partnership Principle be effectively applied in practice to ensure inclusion of CSOs in the programming process?
And how can civil society advocate for structured participation in programme development and monitoring for the next programming period?
These are exactly the questions we want to discuss in Sofia on 2 November 2026. We take the Partnership Principle from the page into the room, bringing together policymakers, regional and local authorities, and civil society to discuss it in person — join us and become part of the conversation on the future of participation and partnership in the Danube Region.