MEPs from the European parliament's regional development committee (REGI) have called for member states to ensure that EU cohesion funds reach Europe's regions and cities.

Europe's regions and local authorities must be more involved in designing regional programmes, said the committee, which insisted the policy have a priority focus on making it easier for final beneficiaries to utilise funding opportunities.

Wednesday's vote followed "over 3000 amendments in 10 committee meetings, in under nine months, 11 working group and countless rapporteur meetings", said regional development committee chair and EPP member Danuta Hübner.

Parliament will now negotiate with the council and the commission over the summer, beginning with yesterday's technical meeting, on Thursday 12 July.

The REGI committee is looking to adopt the rest of its negotiating mandate in the autumn and put the whole package to a final vote once negotiations are concluded.