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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Executive Vice-President Fitto at New European Bauhaus Festival 2026 Brussels, 11 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this third day of the NEB festival. I am delighted to see so many of you here today, including Under-Secretary General Rossbach – I welcome the insights of the UN. The past days have ...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Executive Vice-President Fitto at New European Bauhaus Festival 2026 Brussels, 11 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, Dear colleagues, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this third day of the NEB festival. I am delighted to see so many of you here today, including Under-Secretary General Rossbach – I welcome the insights of the UN. The past days have already shown what creative and innovative solutions we can come up with together. Indeed, I welcome the collective expertise gathered in this room. We come together at a crucial moment. In these challenging times, Europeans need a vision for the future – one that inspires hope, and confidence. The New European Bauhaus is an expressions of this hope. At the founding of our European Union, Robert Schuman said that Europe would not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. Instead, he said it would be built step by step – by a series of concrete achievements, that create solidarity. And this is also the essence of the New European Bauhaus. Not only imagining the future, but building it – brick by brick, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, community by community. And we are building according to those most European of values: solidarity and cooperation – from the ground level upwards. In my role as Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, I have seen this first hand. EU cohesion policy has already invested over 900 million euro in NEB projects. Investments in energy efficiency, housing, sustainable urban development, and many more. But what is most remarkable to me is not the scale, nor the scope. What is most remarkable is the commitment and mobilisation of local people: mayors, architects, artists, citizens, and businesses. Heritage industrial spaces reimagined. Abandoned buildings becoming hubs for innovation, and creative sectors. A place to test flexible spaces and new materials. A place that blends heritage preservation, green infrastructure and social inclusion. A place of just transition strategies for Europe's industrial regions. Across Europe, we can already see many proofs that the New European Bauhaus works. We must build on this foundation. And there is a window of opportunity. The mid-term review of cohesion policy has given Member States the chance to reprogramme funds. We must respond to new challenges – including the energy crisis, and housing shortages. And here, the Commission has been clear. Affordable, sustainable housing must be a priority – and it must be aligned with the New European Bauhaus. 3.3 billion euros have been mobilised specifically for affordable and sustainable housing. This represents a significant opportunity to scale up NEB delivery. I encourage Member States to make the most of this opportunity. We in the Commission are supporting this effort, in three key ways. First, we have created the Peer-to-Peer NEB Community. As you all know: in this field, experience and expertise is vital. The peer-to-peer community helps local, regional, and national authorities learn from each another – and so deliver high quality projects. Second, we are providing tools for Member States and regions to make smart use of financial instruments. This includes the forthcoming pan-European Investment Platform for affordable and sustainable housing. Third, the Commission has recently launched a Call for Expression of Interest. This will provide tailored expert support for authorities managing cohesion policy funds. The goal is to help integrate NEB values – sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion - into funding programmes and projects – so that these principles become part of everyday practice. Today, we celebrate the 14 beneficiaries of this call. Drawn from 9 different Member States, these managing authorities and implementing bodies will receive targeted support to scale up NEB investments. Congratulations to all of you! We are all very excited about the projects your work will bring to life. But more than this, your work will be a beacon and a lighthouse – providing valuable lessons, as we prepare for the future EU budget. The National and Regional Partnership Plans will shape Europe's future – and you have an opportunity to shape these plans. As we do this, let us remember that transformation begins in communities. A climate-ready and inclusive Europe can only be built with the trust and participation of local communities. What we are doing here must be made visible to the public – and their feedback is key. In this spirit, I am delighted to announce that the public vote for the NEB Prizes 2026 is now open. This year's finalists are now published on the NEB platform. I encourage you all to look, to be inspired, and to vote for your favourite projects and ideas The winners of the public vote will be chosen by you – make your voice heard! And of course, we want to hear your expertise and experience already today. So, I very much welcome this afternoon's sessions. They will explore some of the key questions, including stronger cooperation with the private sector. We must encourage private investment in sustainable construction – and private resources for large- scale projects. The New European Bauhaus is here to stay. You have made this happen – through your innovative thinking, your hard work, and your solid achievements. You have succeeded because of your firm roots, and those roots can be described in one word: people. Local people, communities, grassroots organisations – these are the secret of NEB success. As we unlock the door of the future, rethinking and reimagining how we live together, the key is the everyday creativity of people. And in working with this key, you have shown yourselves to be expert locksmiths. We count on you to keep up the good work in the coming months and years – and I look forward to our discussions today. Thank you! SPEECH/26/1346
Speech Brief