EU Committee of the Regions President Visits Bratislava Amid Debate Over Post-2027 EU Budget

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Kata Tüttő, visited the Bratislava Self-Governing Region as European Union institutions intensify discussions over the shape of the next long-term EU budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework, which will cover the period after 2027. Tüttő's visit centered on the role of regional governments in shaping EU policy, with her central message being that Europe must not forget its regions. The European Committee of the Regions is an EU advisory body that represents local and regional authorities across member states, giving them a formal voice in EU legislative and budgetary processes. The Bratislava Self-Governing Region is the administrative authority governing the greater Bratislava area. The timing of the visit is significant, as negotiations over the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework — the EU's overarching spending plan, typically set for seven-year periods — will determine how much funding flows to regions across the bloc for areas such as infrastructure, cohesion, and development. Regional bodies across the EU have been pressing to ensure that local governments retain meaningful influence and adequate financial support in the next budgetary cycle.