{"id":1722,"date":"2026-03-04T17:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2026-03-05T07:10:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T07:10:13","slug":"1722-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/1722-2\/","title":{"rendered":"From Morning to Evening in Brussels: Budget, Culture, Mountains, Negotiations \u2013 Because the Next Twenty Years Are Being Decided Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Csaba Borboly | Brussels, March 4, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has been a busy day in Brussels \u2013 and it is not over yet. From morning until the afternoon I spoke at four different events: the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, a consultation with the European Parliament\u2019s Committee on Culture, the European People\u2019s Party negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and the meeting of the Mountain Alliance.<\/p>\n

Only one of these was a plenary session \u2013 the other three were negotiations, professional consultations and bilateral meetings. But this is exactly what shows that the real work is happening now. Right now, in 2026. And later today I will also address other topics, which I will report on soon.<\/p>\n

Yesterday I was in Florence, where we discussed the very same issues: new rules of the game, a new world and a new methodology. The old recipes no longer work. We need place-based development \u2013 built from the bottom up: from the municipality to the micro-region, from the county to the national level. This is not just a slogan; it is the only way for the voices of our communities to be integrated into European decision-making.<\/p>\n

A Train That Is Leaving Now<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2026 it will be decided what the European Union will look like between 2028 and 2034. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), new programmes and the rules for EU funding are all taking shape now. Those who get on this train now will help shape the future. Those who miss it will later have to make do with the leftovers.<\/p>\n

This does not require miracles \u2013 only work, preparation and timely proposals. We must be present both in Bucharest and in Brussels with professional arguments, concrete texts and ready-to-submit amendments. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) has a chance to present a vision for the future \u2013 but only if everyone does their part. The \u201cPat\u00f3 P\u00e1l\u201d attitude of \u201cwe\u2019ll deal with it tomorrow\u201d could close the door for twenty years.<\/p>\n

On the EU Budget \u2013 At the Plenary Session in the Presence of Commissioner Serafin<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the 170th plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions we voted on the post-2027 MFF in the presence of Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin.<\/p>\n

The Finnish rapporteur Sari Rautio did excellent work. However, a purely performance-based approach is not enough \u2013 we cannot allow resources to be concentrated in regions that are already stronger. I therefore proposed three amendments:<\/p>\n