Photo by Eleonora Altomare on Unsplash
Regional leaders from across Europe gathered in Bari, Italy, for a key conference on maritime-related issues.
It was organised by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) which represents more than 150 regional authorities from 24 countries across Europe and beyond.
It was the first CPMR Political Bureau of 2025, hosted by the Region of Puglia.
Discussions focused mainly on the future of Cohesion Policy, Territorial Competitiveness, and the Clean Industrial Deal, reaffirming the vital role of peripheral maritime regions in shaping Europe’s strategic priorities.
The CPMR stressed the need for an ambitious and balanced European agenda that recognises territorial specificities and the key role of regional governments in the green, digital, and industrial transitions.
Filip Reinhag, President of the CPMR, declared: “Europe’s future competitiveness and resilience depend on our territories. Regions are not just implementing EU policies—they are drivers of innovation, sustainability, and cohesion. Today, from Bari, we sent a clear message to Brussels: no successful Clean Industrial Deal, no fair Competitiveness Strategy and Territorial Cohesion, no EU Oceans Pact and Blue Deal, and definitely no balanced EU Budget can happen without strong regional leadership and direct involvement in decision-making processes.”
The bureau debates included growing concerns over potential recentralisation of policies and funds under the proposed Competitiveness Fund and the potential future shape of post-2027 Cohesion Policy. Regions called for safeguards to preserve their role as direct partners of the European Union, especially in strategic sectors like transport, energy, maritime industries, and climate adaptation.
Welcoming the delegates, Michele Emiliano, President of the Region of Puglia, stated: “Puglia is proud to host the CPMR and its Inter Mediterranean Commission showing Europe that regions like ours are ready to lead the way in building resilient, sustainable, and competitive communities. Our Mediterranean identity, our maritime dimension, and our know-how in energy, environment, and innovation must be at the core of the European project. We also see the forthcoming Mediterranean Pact as an opportunity to enhance cooperation in the area towards a Macro-region on important issues such as climate and water.”
Key outcomes of the meeting include:
- A unified call to defend place-based policies and demand regional involvement in future EU governance frameworks;
- Support for a vision of Territorial Competiveness and a balanced Clean Industrial Deal that integrates maritime industries, ports, and transport infrastructure;
- A call to the EU institutions for stronger recognition of peripheral and maritime regions, encompassing all territories under art 174 and 349 TFUE in the forthcoming EU budge negotiations and new generation of policies.
The CPMR reaffirmed its commitment to working with EU institutions, member states, and other stakeholders to ensure no region and no citizen is left behind in Europe’s path towards competitiveness, cohesion, sustainability, and strategic autonomy.
The next CPMR Political Bureau will take place on 4 July in Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands.
