Thomas Schwab
@schwabvonpostel.eu
Economist | Project Manager | Research Architect @ Bertelsmann Stiftung
I specialize in European economic policy with a focus on how to foster economic cohesion all over the EU.
Views are my own
I specialize in European economic policy with a focus on how to foster economic cohesion all over the EU.
Views are my own
If they reach a deal ➡️ multi-level governance maintained & renewed trust.
If not ➡️ turbulence ahead for cohesion + institutional
balance.
Which path seems more likely to you? #EU #MFF #Politics #CohesionPolicy
If not ➡️ turbulence ahead for cohesion + institutional
balance.
Which path seems more likely to you? #EU #MFF #Politics #CohesionPolicy
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
If they reach a deal ➡️ multi-level governance maintained & renewed trust.
If not ➡️ turbulence ahead for cohesion + institutional
balance.
Which path seems more likely to you? #EU #MFF #Politics #CohesionPolicy
If not ➡️ turbulence ahead for cohesion + institutional
balance.
Which path seems more likely to you? #EU #MFF #Politics #CohesionPolicy
This isn’t just about budget lines — it’s a test of EU governance:
Can Brussels find a balance between efficiency, inclusiveness, and democratic legitimacy?
The outcome could redefine how national + regional voices shape EU priorities.
Can Brussels find a balance between efficiency, inclusiveness, and democratic legitimacy?
The outcome could redefine how national + regional voices shape EU priorities.
November 10, 2025 at 10:57 AM
This isn’t just about budget lines — it’s a test of EU governance:
Can Brussels find a balance between efficiency, inclusiveness, and democratic legitimacy?
The outcome could redefine how national + regional voices shape EU priorities.
Can Brussels find a balance between efficiency, inclusiveness, and democratic legitimacy?
The outcome could redefine how national + regional voices shape EU priorities.
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
In a time when Europe needs to act faster, it also needs to govern better.
Strengthening regional voices isn’t a barrier to reform — it’s the key to legitimacy.
👉 Read my piece on why the real MFF debate is about who gets a say in Europe’s future.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/eu-bud...
Strengthening regional voices isn’t a barrier to reform — it’s the key to legitimacy.
👉 Read my piece on why the real MFF debate is about who gets a say in Europe’s future.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/eu-bud...
EU Budget: Is Cohesion Policy’s Federalism Killing the MFF Reform?
Negotiations on the future EU budget have begun. With the European Commission’s proposal released in July, far-reaching changes are on the table.
www.linkedin.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
In a time when Europe needs to act faster, it also needs to govern better.
Strengthening regional voices isn’t a barrier to reform — it’s the key to legitimacy.
👉 Read my piece on why the real MFF debate is about who gets a say in Europe’s future.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/eu-bud...
Strengthening regional voices isn’t a barrier to reform — it’s the key to legitimacy.
👉 Read my piece on why the real MFF debate is about who gets a say in Europe’s future.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/eu-bud...
As I understand it, Cohesion Funds will be reduced to €218 billion, supplemented by €150 billion in loans. Farmers remain at the same level.
July 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM
As I understand it, Cohesion Funds will be reduced to €218 billion, supplemented by €150 billion in loans. Farmers remain at the same level.
So the question is:
👉 Does money follow policy, or does policy follow money?
Here some line where I dig into this and more:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/mff-ho...
Would love to hear your views.
#EU #MFF #CohesionPolicy #Governance #EUBudget #StructuralFunds
👉 Does money follow policy, or does policy follow money?
Here some line where I dig into this and more:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/mff-ho...
Would love to hear your views.
#EU #MFF #CohesionPolicy #Governance #EUBudget #StructuralFunds
MFF: The How and What of Cohesion Policy
1. Setting the Stage: A Crucial Juncture for EU Policy On July 16, the European Commission will unveil its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)—the EU’s long-term budget, tradit...
www.linkedin.com
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
So the question is:
👉 Does money follow policy, or does policy follow money?
Here some line where I dig into this and more:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/mff-ho...
Would love to hear your views.
#EU #MFF #CohesionPolicy #Governance #EUBudget #StructuralFunds
👉 Does money follow policy, or does policy follow money?
Here some line where I dig into this and more:
🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/mff-ho...
Would love to hear your views.
#EU #MFF #CohesionPolicy #Governance #EUBudget #StructuralFunds
At its heart, Cohesion Policy is about what kind of EU we want:
– Inclusive?
– Regionally balanced?
– Green and digital for everyone?
Not just about money—but purpose.
– Inclusive?
– Regionally balanced?
– Green and digital for everyone?
Not just about money—but purpose.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
At its heart, Cohesion Policy is about what kind of EU we want:
– Inclusive?
– Regionally balanced?
– Green and digital for everyone?
Not just about money—but purpose.
– Inclusive?
– Regionally balanced?
– Green and digital for everyone?
Not just about money—but purpose.
💡 What’s needed?
Reform + investment, bundled smartly.
But conditionality is tricky:
– Ties regions to national performance
– Can backfire politically
– Risks turning Brussels into a scapegoat
It has to be done with care.
Reform + investment, bundled smartly.
But conditionality is tricky:
– Ties regions to national performance
– Can backfire politically
– Risks turning Brussels into a scapegoat
It has to be done with care.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
💡 What’s needed?
Reform + investment, bundled smartly.
But conditionality is tricky:
– Ties regions to national performance
– Can backfire politically
– Risks turning Brussels into a scapegoat
It has to be done with care.
Reform + investment, bundled smartly.
But conditionality is tricky:
– Ties regions to national performance
– Can backfire politically
– Risks turning Brussels into a scapegoat
It has to be done with care.
Cohesion Policy has had successes—but big gaps remain:
Southern Italy, rural France, parts of Spain… still lagging.
We must talk about why it didn’t work in these places.
Ignoring failures ≠ progress.
Southern Italy, rural France, parts of Spain… still lagging.
We must talk about why it didn’t work in these places.
Ignoring failures ≠ progress.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Cohesion Policy has had successes—but big gaps remain:
Southern Italy, rural France, parts of Spain… still lagging.
We must talk about why it didn’t work in these places.
Ignoring failures ≠ progress.
Southern Italy, rural France, parts of Spain… still lagging.
We must talk about why it didn’t work in these places.
Ignoring failures ≠ progress.
The current debate?
It’s focused more on the how than the what.
✅ Yes, we need better delivery.
❌ But we risk sidelining local voices, civil society, and subnational actors.
The lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are mixed.
It’s focused more on the how than the what.
✅ Yes, we need better delivery.
❌ But we risk sidelining local voices, civil society, and subnational actors.
The lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are mixed.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
The current debate?
It’s focused more on the how than the what.
✅ Yes, we need better delivery.
❌ But we risk sidelining local voices, civil society, and subnational actors.
The lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are mixed.
It’s focused more on the how than the what.
✅ Yes, we need better delivery.
❌ But we risk sidelining local voices, civil society, and subnational actors.
The lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) are mixed.
📉 With growing pressure from defence, tech, and competitiveness agendas, Cohesion funding is likely to shrink in relative terms—maybe even absolutely.
Whether the budget grows or not, regions may lose ground.
Whether the budget grows or not, regions may lose ground.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
📉 With growing pressure from defence, tech, and competitiveness agendas, Cohesion funding is likely to shrink in relative terms—maybe even absolutely.
Whether the budget grows or not, regions may lose ground.
Whether the budget grows or not, regions may lose ground.
📅 On July 16, the European Commission will propose the new MFF.
It's not just about how much money the EU will spend—but where it goes, and what kind of Europe it builds.
Cohesion Policy, the second-biggest budget line, could be redefined. Or downgraded.
It's not just about how much money the EU will spend—but where it goes, and what kind of Europe it builds.
Cohesion Policy, the second-biggest budget line, could be redefined. Or downgraded.
July 10, 2025 at 9:23 AM
📅 On July 16, the European Commission will propose the new MFF.
It's not just about how much money the EU will spend—but where it goes, and what kind of Europe it builds.
Cohesion Policy, the second-biggest budget line, could be redefined. Or downgraded.
It's not just about how much money the EU will spend—but where it goes, and what kind of Europe it builds.
Cohesion Policy, the second-biggest budget line, could be redefined. Or downgraded.
Partnership = smarter policies + stronger democracy.
We outline how to ensure effective partnership in a reformed Cohesion Policy system.
Let's not centralize away what makes Europe work. 🇪🇺
Full Brief here ➡️ www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/publikati...
#EU #CohesionPolicy #Democracy #Partnership
We outline how to ensure effective partnership in a reformed Cohesion Policy system.
Let's not centralize away what makes Europe work. 🇪🇺
Full Brief here ➡️ www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/publikati...
#EU #CohesionPolicy #Democracy #Partnership
Cohesion Policy in National Envelopes: How to integrate Partnership
Future EU Cohesion Policy is likely to hand more decision-making over to member states with the European Commission’s plans of merging multiple funds delivered to member states by national envelopes. ...
www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de
April 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Partnership = smarter policies + stronger democracy.
We outline how to ensure effective partnership in a reformed Cohesion Policy system.
Let's not centralize away what makes Europe work. 🇪🇺
Full Brief here ➡️ www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/publikati...
#EU #CohesionPolicy #Democracy #Partnership
We outline how to ensure effective partnership in a reformed Cohesion Policy system.
Let's not centralize away what makes Europe work. 🇪🇺
Full Brief here ➡️ www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/de/publikati...
#EU #CohesionPolicy #Democracy #Partnership
Worüber wir im Bereich der Kohäsionspolitik zu diskutieren haben, habe ich vor einiger Zeit hier aufgeschrieben: www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/publicati...
Quo vadis, Cohesion Policy? European Regional Development at a Crossroads
Cohesion Policy seems to be on the backfoot: Given a raft of new policy priorities and tightening fiscal room to maneuver, a fundamental discussion on the relevance and future direction of Cohesion Po...
www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Worüber wir im Bereich der Kohäsionspolitik zu diskutieren haben, habe ich vor einiger Zeit hier aufgeschrieben: www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/publicati...
Insgesamt bietet der Koalitionsvertrag spannende Impulse für die europäische Debatte um die Kohäsionspolitik und das zukünftige Finanzrahmenwerk in den kommenden Monaten.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Insgesamt bietet der Koalitionsvertrag spannende Impulse für die europäische Debatte um die Kohäsionspolitik und das zukünftige Finanzrahmenwerk in den kommenden Monaten.
Allerdings bleibt offen, wie die Zivilgesellschaft eingebunden werden soll, insbesondere mit Blick auf eine mögliche Neustrukturierung des EU-Budgets.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Allerdings bleibt offen, wie die Zivilgesellschaft eingebunden werden soll, insbesondere mit Blick auf eine mögliche Neustrukturierung des EU-Budgets.
Eine zentrale Steuerung der Kohäsionspolitik wird abgelehnt – die Bundesländer sollen weiter eingebunden bleiben. Das entspricht dem föderalen Partnerschaftsprinzip, das eine Beteiligung subnationaler Akteure sicherstellt.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Eine zentrale Steuerung der Kohäsionspolitik wird abgelehnt – die Bundesländer sollen weiter eingebunden bleiben. Das entspricht dem föderalen Partnerschaftsprinzip, das eine Beteiligung subnationaler Akteure sicherstellt.
Mit dem Hinweis auf stärkere Anreize für innerstaatliche Reformen ist ein performance-based Ansatz gemeint – also „Geld gegen Reform“. Das ist nicht nur logisch, sondern auch im Sinne der EU-Kommission, die betont: Institutions matter.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Mit dem Hinweis auf stärkere Anreize für innerstaatliche Reformen ist ein performance-based Ansatz gemeint – also „Geld gegen Reform“. Das ist nicht nur logisch, sondern auch im Sinne der EU-Kommission, die betont: Institutions matter.
Die Forderung nach einer eigenständigen Fondsstruktur leicht erfüllbar: Diese ist im AEUV verankert, eine Änderung wäre also nur über eine EU-Vertragsreform möglich – was sie zu einer eher unstrittigen Position macht.
April 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Die Forderung nach einer eigenständigen Fondsstruktur leicht erfüllbar: Diese ist im AEUV verankert, eine Änderung wäre also nur über eine EU-Vertragsreform möglich – was sie zu einer eher unstrittigen Position macht.