About: EU cohesion policy
Study: Cohesion’s impact on local audiences still remains limited
Social outcomes in Cohesion policy remain relatively obscure for the general public compared to economic developments, a recent project study has found. In addition to that, the process of reaching local audiences remains a challenge for policymakers and organisations across the European regions.
Tsipras says CAP and regional policy cuts a ‘gift’ to anti-Europeans
Athens will oppose proposed cuts in the post-2020 agricultural and regional policy as this will be a “gift” to anti-EU populist forces, Greek premier Alexis Tsipras said on 13 December at the EU Council.
Of funds and values: Conditionality in EU cohesion policy
As the EU's multi-annual budget is being negotiated, the amounts and efficiency of spending matter but also priorities and European values when disbursing programmes. Smarter conditionality is needed, triggering less political backlash, and, where needed, direct payment to beneficiaries, argue Benedek Jávor and Laszlo Andor.
Study: EU regional policy influences how people vote
Voters who are aware of EU support in their region vote in larger number for pro-Europe politicians. However, EU structural funds remain largely unknown - and often inefficient. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Urban and rural disparities still a thorn in Europe’s regional development
Continuous depopulation of the EU's rural regions and interregional disparities remain a serious threat for the economic and demographic base of the EU regions in the future, stakeholders highlighted during a conference on territorial divergencies in the EU held in Brussels on Tuesday (27 November).
EU must look after regions, even if future funding is cut
European border regions matter and the EU must continue looking after them despite planned cuts for Cohesion policy funding, particularly as some of them remain under-developed, participants at a recent EURACTIV event said, highlighting the example of Romania-Bulgaria cross-border cooperation.
European funds: What next for the Polish economy?
European funds were one of the factors that helped Poland avoid the serious effects of the financial crisis. Negotiations on the new seven-year financial framework have already begun in the European Parliament. The outcome could have a major effect on how Poles vote in next May's elections.
Dependence on European funds worries Portuguese opposition
Portuguese MEPs José Manuel Fernandes (PSD) and Pedro Silva Pereira (PS) agree on the importance of European structural funds in public investment, although the former says it is "worrying" and the latter considers it "strategic". EURACTIV's media partner Lusa reports.
Portugal dominates RegioStars Awards with innovation, culture projects
Portugal was the big winner of the RegioStars awards 2018 in Brussels, a project promoting regional innovation, cohesion and culture in the EU, with two awards for its innovation in sustainable industrial technologies and the promotion of cultural heritage.
Palmieri: Final agreement on Cohesion is necessary before European elections
With the European Week of Regions and Cities starting on 8 September, the debate on Cohesion Policy and its future in the EU's long-term budget 2020 is at the forefront. The European Economic and Social Committee will play a determining role in the debate and the final agreement on the proposal.
How the EU’s Cohesion Fund can support the circular economy
The EU’s next Cohesion Fund for regional development should prioritise investments into waste management systems focused on prevention, re-use, separate collection and recycling – not on incineration, argues Janek Vahk.
Europe helping Mayotte to reduce its high cost of living
Mayotte, one of the EU’s least developed regions, lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean. EU cohesion policy supports the French department by encouraging local production and trade. EURACTIV France reports.
MEPs ask EU to keep funding peace in Northern Ireland after Brexit
The European Parliament considers the experience of Northern Ireland as an example of the success of the EU's cohesion policy. As Brexit draws nearer, MEPs are demanding that the EU keep funding projects in the region to preserve the peace.
Poland’s push for Via Carpathia may boost cooperation in Eastern Europe
For a long time, Warsaw has been looking for opportunities to boost regional cooperation with neighbours. Now plans for the so-called Carpathian Strategy have gained the support of some countries in the region, paving the way for a series of joint projects partly funded by the EU.
EESC rapporteur: reducing future Cohesion’s budget affects EU’s credibility
The European Economic and Social Committee expressed strong disagreement with the Commission’s proposal to cut Cohesion policy funds by 10% in a recent opinion, saying the EU executive must show sensitivity for the current political environment rather than focus only...
“Time is Brain”: How ERDF funds save lives in Berlin
The most comprehensive EU regional development instrument is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). But in most cases, its work remains largely unknown to the public. An example from Berlin shows how it literally saves lives. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Nicola Dobroslavić: ‘There is nothing ‘traditional’ here but the value of EU solidarity’
Negotiations over the EU's next long-term budget will start soon and the reform of the Cohesion Policy is one of its main elements. Nikola Dobroslavić (EPP), the European Committee of the Regions' rapporteur on this matter, analysed the worries cities and regions have about the current proposal in an interview with EURACTIV.
In Sète, EU funds help stop coastal erosion
A redevelopment project co-financed by the ERDF in the commune of Sète (France) aims to mitigate erosion which threatens the site. The fund contributes to projects on sensitive issues in the area by the Mediterranean, such as maritime pollution and sustainable tourism. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Commission sheds some light on cohesion policy reform
The European Commission cleared up some of the details of its proposal to reform cohesion policy in the next EU long-term budget during a second round of discussion with MEPs on Wednesday (21 June).
European regions in urgent need of a Brexit strategy
Brexit will have many practical consequences for the regional economy. Port cities like Zeebrugge in Belgium, which trade a lot with Great Britain, will be particularly affected. EURACTIV Germany takes a look at both sides of the Channel.
New cohesion policy is ‘as good as it gets’, Commission insists
The EU's new regional policy is a “balanced, simpler and ambitious” proposal, the best that could have ever been achieved under the current conditions, Commissioner Corina Crețu told Members of the European Parliament on Thursday (May 31).
Commission defends Cohesion-European Semester link, with suspended payments option
The Commission rushed on Wednesday (30 May) to defend its proposal on linking Cohesion Policy programmes with structural reforms in the European Semester, after MEPs and networks of regions and cities voiced concerns about the possible impact on Cohesion’s initial objectives to help less developed regions.
Regions confused by proposed Cohesion reforms
Networks of European regions and cities remain puzzled by the "mixed messages" sent from the presentation of the legislative package for Cohesion on Tuesday (29 May), where they heard Commission proposals to focus more on southern Europe and to apply significant changes in the structure of Cohesion Policy Funds.