On November 21, 2025, the Ministry of European Investments and Projects, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance organized a high-level conference on the future of Cohesion Policy with the theme "Cohesion 2027+: an enabler of long-term development, inclusive economic competitiveness and resilience throughout Europe". 

The opening speeches were given by high officials: Mr. Nicușor Dan, President of Romania, Mr. Ilie Bolojan, Prime Minister of Romania, Mr. Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Ms. Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Ms. Oana Țoiu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Alexandru Nazare, Minister of Finance. The opening session was hosted by Mr. Dragoș Pîslaru, Minister of European Investments and Projects.

The Romanian ESC was represented by President Sterică Fudulea.

In the context of political discussions on the EU`s next multiannual financial framework, this conference aimed to provide high officials responsible for Cohesion Policy, EU decision-makers, and representatives of relevant national and European institutions with a framework for exchanging views ahead of decisions on the main strategic directions for the period 2028-2034. 

The debates focused on economic, social, and territorial cohesion and explored ways to strike a balance between solidarity, performance, and flexibility.

The plenary session, which took place in the first part of the conference, had as a topic "The future of Cohesion Policy: how to maintain its strategic value?" and attempted to connect the three pillars—economic, social, and territorial—at a strategic level. 

The second part of the conference consisted of parallel sessions on each of the three pillars. President Fudulea spoke at the session on the social pillar, moderated by Mr. Florian Marin, member of the European Economic and Social Committee and president of the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Romania.

The topic of the session was "How can Cohesion Policy better respond to social change in Europe?" 

Mr. Fudulea spoke about the intensification of economic and social vulnerabilities in Romania`s counties on the EU`s eastern border and how Cohesion Policy can help address these challenges, focusing on both employment measures and strategic social investments throughout life. At the same time, National and Regional Partnership Plans should be able to institutionalize multi-level dialogue by integrating mechanisms that allow social partners and civil society organizations to shape national priorities and regional achievements. Since social partners are often not properly defined or identified, the Economic and Social Council, which is the forum par excellence for social and civic dialogue between employers, trade unions, and civil society organizations, must be directly involved in the implementation of cohesion policy, precisely in order to help ensure legitimate and representative participation that will consolidate a renewed European social contract after 2027.