The European Alliance for Mountains held a successful second meeting on Wednesday 4 March 2026 at the European Parliament. The breakfast debate, entitled “How can the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) deliver for mountain areas?”, was initiated by Herbert Dorfmann, Member of the European Parliament, Marie Antoinette Maupertuis, Member of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), and co-organised by Euromontana.  

The aim was to discuss the ongoing proposals for the next EU budget, their implications for mountain territories, and reflect on concrete technical ideas and action points to support mountains ahead of the 2028-2034 MFF, put forward in a new Alliance Position Paper, endorsed by the co-chairs of the Alliance.  

Forty participants attended, including twenty policymakers from the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Committee of the Regions. In a full room, participants expressed anticipation for a lively discussion.  

Following introductory remarks by Herbert Dorfmann MEP, Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, highlighted the importance of mountains and expressed her active support for the European Alliance.  

Mountains are a huge resource for our European social model, though they face many challenges and specific constraints. I am absolutely on board with the work you are doing today, and we all need to work together, across the institutions, in the European Parliament, and in the Committee of the Regions.

Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness

Herbert Dorfmann and Marie Antoinette Maupertuis underlined three shared priorities described in the Position Paper: the need to operationalise Article 174 TFEU in the post-2027 budget framework, a strong Common Agricultural Policy for mountain farming, and the importance of protecting biodiversity in mountain areas, in alignment with Euromontana’s longstanding demands. 

The event also heard important contributions from the key rapporteurs tasked with delivering the Parliament’s position on the upcoming National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs). Andrey Novakov (Rapporteur for the EP REGI Committee), Elsi Katainen (Rapporteur for the EP AGRI Committee) and Vasco Alves Cordeiro (Co-Rapporteur for the NRPPs at the Committee of the Regions) each shared their perspectives on how the next MFF can deliver for mountain areas.  

In mountain areas, it is not just farmers, its IT specialists, its home workers, its service providers. We need equal access to services and a decent life in the mountains. You can count on the mountains being included in our ongoing discussions; we need you as well. Tailormade solutions for mountains are what is required.

Andrey Novakov (Rapporteur for the EP REGI Committee)

Whilst I am not from a mountain area, rural areas are close to my heart. The position paper of the European Alliance for Mountains contains valuable points. I agree with you on the need for a meaningful role of regional and local authorities in the National and Partnership plans. We are genuinely concerned about the involvement of local actors. Mountainous regions should absolutely be taken into account in the Plans.

Elsi Katainen (Rapporteur for the EP AGRI Committee)

Without multilevel governance, there are no mountains, there are no rural areas, there are no urban areas, there are no Islands, there are only countries. Europe does not start in national capitals. Europe starts on the smallest street, in the smallest village, in the smallest region, of each member country in the Union. 

Vasco Alves Cordeiro (Co-Rapporteur for the NRPPs at the Committee of the Regions)

A roundtable discussion moderated by Euromontana Director Guillaume Corradino gave participants the opportunity to exchange concrete ideas on how the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and broader EU territorial priorities can support European mountain communities. Several elected representatives shared their views on the proposals.  

The event concluded with closing remarks from Marie Antoinette Maupertuis of the CoR, who underlined the importance of sustained engagement and further work from policymakers across the institutions on mountain topics and called for interested policymakers to join the Alliance, further strengthening the network of policymakers committed to advancing mountain issues across the EU institutions.  

Building on the successful launch of the Alliance in 2025, this second meeting of the European Alliance for Mountains came at a crucial moment in the negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework, bringing concrete and targeted recommendations to key policymakers involved in these discussions. The voice of mountains was heard loud and clear at a decisive moment for the negotiations.  

The European Alliance for Mountains seeks to continue amplifying the voice of mountain territories within European institutions and secure targeted, long-term support for these regions. For more information, or for those interested in joining the Alliance, please contact guillaume.corradino@euromontana.org. 

European Alliance for Mountains position paper : “Common priorities for Europe’s mountain areas in the future MFF“