Romanian President Nicuşor Dan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened the inaugural leaders’ meeting of the “Friends of Cohesion” group in Brussels on Thursday. The meeting focused on coordinating strategy before upcoming discussions regarding the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. President Dan announced the meeting via Facebook, stating their advocacy for an ambitious EU budget. The “Friends of Cohesion” group aims to represent nations benefiting from EU cohesion funds. This initiative signals a proactive effort to influence the upcoming budget negotiations. The leaders intend to secure substantial financial support for regional development and economic convergence within the European Union. The outcome of these negotiations will significantly impact funding for member states reliant on cohesion policies.