Tour 3

Commissioner Serafin participated in a discussion on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) with the Slovenian delegation in charge of following the works on the long-term European budget. These talks helped the Commissioner understand Slovenia’s view and make sure their ideas fit with EU goals to benefit all Europeans.   

They advocated for an ambitious budget that supports new objectives, whilst also upholding traditional policies. Cohesion policy remains very important for the country. Their exchange also focused on the RRF – for which the Slovenian authorities expressed positive views, CAP, and defence (particularly on the SAFE instrument). 

The discussion with the Minister focused on Slovenia’s experience with the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the link between investments and structural reforms. The Minister also touched upon the need to increase defence expenditure and the introduction of New Own Resources. 

The Commissioner also met the Members of the EU Affairs Committee at the National Assembly.  

As natural catastrophes are becoming more and more frequent in Europe, with damaging consequences for biodiversity, people and the economy, taking preventive actions is one of the most efficient ways to tackle these growing threats. During his visit, Commissioner Serafin learnt about EU funded projects which aim to reform the Slovak civil protection mechanism and invest in preventive climate-related initiatives.   

The visit confirms the EU's commitment to protecting individuals and enhancing resilience against new natural disasters by interacting directly with those operating on the ground.  

Meeting Minister of Cohesion Aleksander Jevšek was a key opportunity to strengthen cooperation on the EU Budget, discuss key budgetary priorities and how to most efficiently employ the EU’s financial resources to support Slovenia and the Union as a whole. The discussion mainly focused on the future of EU cohesion policy, which aims to reduce territorial and demographic disparities by supporting growth, jobs, competitiveness, and sustainability across all regions. Commissioner Serafin’s meeting with the Minister of Cohesion reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to reducing these disparities, especially in rural and industrial transition areas. 

Helping top European companies is vital for fostering innovation and boosting economic competitiveness so the EU stays a global leader in important fields like green energy and digital technology. Visiting five leading companies in Nazarje, Commissioner Serafin learned about the challenges and opportunities these businesses face, ensuring EU strategies meet the needs of various industries.

This meeting was hosted by Mr Matej Pečovnik, the Mayor of the Municipality of Nazarje, which was severely afflicted by the August 2023 floods, and was a beneficiary of EU funds.

Commissioner Serafin met with representatives of several Slovenian companies, including Beyond Semiconductor, Podkrižnik Group, Steklarna Hrastnik, and GIC Gradnj, representing innovation, advanced manufacturing, and sustainability efforts. He also engaged with the Slovenian Technological Forum, which promotes Slovenia’s green, innovative future and social well-being through quality jobs and economic participation.

The administrators of these projects shared with the Commissioner some constructive feedback, noting that the administrative burden and requirements to apply for and receive EU funds are too high, and that the calls for funding could be made clearer.

In Croatia, Piotr Serafin, started his visit with a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Regional Development and EU funds, and the State Secretary for Europe. 

The meeting focused on the strong role played by cohesion policy, as well as Croatia’s positive experience with the RRF. The counterparts also shared their experiences with the Solidarity Fund, following the earthquakes that hit the country in 2020. They suggested greater flexibility and a longer implementation deadline, noting that reconstruction efforts require considerable time. 

His agenda also included a visit to the Croatian Parliament, where he met with the European Affairs and Finance and Central Budget Committees.

Members of Parliament focused their interventions and discussions on the next long-term EU budget, by touching on the topics of cohesion, the CAP, funding for research and science, noting for example the importance of attracting venture capital for AI growth.  

Croatian Parliament

The Commissioner then had a meeting with several stakeholders, which included: the Institute for Development and International Relations, the Faculty of Economic & Business of the University of Zagreb, the Ruđer Bošković Institute, the Croatian Employers’ Association, the AmCham Croatia, the Counties association,  the Association of cities and Members of the academic community.

The meeting stressed that preserving science funding is a priority, with the European Social Fund (ESF) and Horizon programmes cited as having helped to partially reverse the brain drain in the country.

Representatives of cities and regions focused their interventions on energy efficiency, resilience, smart cities, the digital transition, schooling, and civil protection. They emphasised that housing supply, and in particular affordable housing, is the most pressing challenge, and called for EU support to address this issue. 

Accompanied by minister Erlić, minister Obuljen Koržinek and mayor Tomašević, the Commissioner visited the Croatian Natural History Museum, a project funded by the EU budget.

The project is a prime example of how EU funding is used to preserve natural heritage while aligning with broader EU climate and environment policies. Through such investments, the EU not only supports Croatia’s national priorities but also contributes to the EU's long-term goals of promoting sustainability, protecting biodiversity, and fostering environmental education and awareness across Member States.

Croatian Natual History museum 

Commissioner Serafin met with Italy’s Minister for European Affairs and Cohesion Policies, Tommaso Foti, to discuss the Commission’s proposal for the next long-term EU budget. The discussion focused on Cohesion policy and CAP, but also security, migration and competitiveness.  

Later, Commissioner Serafin met with Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, to discuss a range of topics related to EU funding and economic policy. The conversation touched on the importance of cohesion policy for Italy, the need to support EU competitiveness, and considerations around the Multiannual Financial Framework’s size and repayment timelines. Discussions included defence funding, and the ongoing need to balance EU budget priorities with Member States’ interests.

Later in the day, the Commissioner met with the CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, a national bank partnering with the European Commission on InvestEU. They discussed strengthening collaboration, streamlining processes, and ensuring consistency and simplicity. The CEO shared experiences from initiatives supporting social and economic development, as well as balancing environmental, social, and other priorities. The meeting covered broader issues of growth, development, and cooperation. 

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The Commissioner then met with several regional governors coordinated by the national association of regions and autonomous provinces (CINSEDO). The governors emphasized the importance of preserving a strong regional role in policy-making and ensuring that all regions have access to funding, regardless of their economic status. They also expressed support for the Commission's efforts to simplify and streamline the policy. Overall, the meeting highlighted the need for a more efficient and effective cohesion policy that takes into account the diverse needs and challenges of different regions.

Following this, discussions took place with Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome and President of the Italian Local Authorities (ALI), and Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples and President of the National Association of Municipalities (ANCI). They reported very good results from implementing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) at the city level, with funds arriving directly to municipalities. However, they explained that large cities are facing growing social challenges, especially the widening gap between city centres and their outskirts. Housing support and improved mobility were highlighted as key to addressing these concerns. 

During discussions with Italian Parliament Members, key points included support for a larger EU budget and the importance of cohesion policy and migration management. Concerns were raised about conditionalities in funding and the challenges linked to the NGEU repayment. Questions also emerged around the potential extension of recovery plans and the need for budget simplification. The role of National Parliaments in EU defence and better risk management in agricultural funds were also mentioned.

After his visit to Rome, Commissioner Serafin took a train to Milan. His first stop was a meeting with Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of the city. Welcomed in the room that hosts the official flag of the Winter Olympics that will take place in Lombardy in 2026, Commissioner Serafin had the chance to discuss concerns and ideas for Milan with Mayor Sala. 

In Milan, Commissioner Serafin visited the EU Funded project Ephos,a photonic quantum computing company. The objective is to build the key element of the infrastructure to power quantum computing: photonic chips. Ephos is the only photonic quantum start-up in the world with in-house chip manufacturing capabilities.

Ephos