Enhancing regional access to and performance in EU initiatives and funds

As part of the TSI project “Enhancing regional access to and performance in EU initiatives and funds”, the OECD conducted fact-finding missions between November 2024 and February 2025 to the Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), Silesia (Poland), Thuringia (Germany), and Wallonia (Belgium), and produced an analytical report in collaboration with the regions. The report highlights the main strategies and stakeholders involved in the use and promotion of EU funds in each region, accompanied by data on EU fund utilisation.

It provides a critical assessment of the regional EU funding landscape through a detailed SWOT analysis and identifies five main challenges faced by stakeholders in accessing EU funds, with insights tailored to the local context of each region. This region-specific analysis is complemented by a summary chapter that outlines the common challenges identified across all four regions and proposes potential ways forward in light of upcoming developments, including the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

This virtual event marked the launch of the analytical report for the project “Enhancing regional access to and performance in EU initiatives and funds,” focusing on the regions of Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), Silesia (Poland), Thuringia (Germany), and Wallonia (Belgium). Participants gained insights into the key challenges each region faces in accessing and utilising EU funds, including how EU funds are integrated into regional strategies, the main stakeholders involved in mobilising or facilitating their use, and the barriers to access at the regional level.

In addition, each region commented on the findings specific to their territory, offering a local perspective on both existing barriers and opportunities. This was complemented by a presentation on the common challenges observed across all four regions, offering a comparative overview that highlights shared obstacles and potential areas for cross-regional learning and collaboration.