Prioritise investment and growth in the new MFF from 2028

"Enabling growth, promoting innovation and strengthening regions: This is what the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must achieve from 2028. This requires clear investment priorities instead of fragmented distribution. Local craft businesses need to be strengthened in a targeted manner and the framework conditions need to be predictable and reliable over the entire funding period.

The national and regional partnership plans envisage a weakening of the regions, which we view very critically, above all due to the expected negative impact on practical and craft-relevant programmes. The skilled crafts sector expects improvements to be made here in the interests of greater regional participation.

Furthermore, it is not enough to promote economically weak regions alone. Strong regions must also be supported in order to create innovation drivers and flagship projects across Europe that attract others and unleash innovative power. This kind of broad-based support is particularly beneficial to craft businesses, which are present in all regions and contribute significantly to local economic power.

With an unprecedented total budget of almost two trillion euros, care must be taken to ensure that additional funds are used to stimulate growth and not just for consumptive measures. All the more reason for the EU to set the right priorities, distribute funds more efficiently and take all regions into account appropriately."