Structural Funds get Lisbon make-over 

The Commission on 13 July adopted two key proposals in order to help national and regional authorities make the most efficient use of the €308 billion EU money that was allocated to Cohesion policy under the December 2005 budgetary deal for 2007-2013. This comes only days after the European Parliament vote on the package of regulations that will govern Structural Funds operation from January 2007 (see EurActiv 4 July 2006 ).

Complementing the regulations, the Community Strategic Guidelines are prepared by the Commission to set out the political priorities for investments to be made at national and regional level. Emphasising investments in knowledge and information society, innovation, entrepreneurship, the environment and "creating more and better jobs," the Community Strategic Guidelines play a crucial role in "lisbonising" the future Cohesion policy. 

The Communication “Cohesion policy and cities: the urban contribution to growth and jobs in the regions” aims at facilitating and strengthening cities' involvement into the preparation of new programmes as early and efficiently as possible. This document embodies the Commission's will to give more ownership of EU policies at decentralized levels.