The regional policy of the European Union, also called cohesion policy, is the main regional and social investment policy and aims to reduce the socioeconomic and territorial disparities that exist between the regions of the Union.[1] This policy covers all European regions, although these regions belong to different categories, depending mainly on their economic situation.
More than a third of the EU budget is dedicated to this policy, which seeks to eliminate economic, social and territorial disparities within the EU, restructure areas with industrial decline "Deindustrialization (economy)") and diversify rural areas that have declining agriculture.[7] In doing this, EU regional policy is aimed at making regions more competitive, encouraging economic growth and job creation. Politics also plays a role in broader goals for the future, including climate change, energy supply and globalization.
The most important enlargement of the EU took place in May 2004 with ten new Member States, mostly from Central or Eastern Europe, followed by the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007. Most of these countries were poorer at the time than the previous members and this meant a reduction in the average per capita income of the EU, which meant that some regions of the former EU-15 were no longer eligible for Community financial aid, since the majority The regions of the new Member States meet the requirements to receive such funds.[8].
These investments eventually contribute to achieving the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth objectives of the European Green Deal.[9].
History
Objectives 2007-2013
By far the majority of regional policy funds (more than 80%) are dedicated to the regions included in the Convergence objective. This target covers the poorest regions in Europe whose GDP per capita is less than 75% of the EU average. This includes all regions of the new Member States, most of Southern Italy, East Germany, Greece and Portugal, much of Spain, and some parts of the United Kingdom.
With the enlargement of new Member States in 2004 and 2007, the average GDP per capita has decreased. As a result, some former EU 15 regions, which used to receive funding under the Convergence target, are now above the 75% threshold. These regions now receive transitional "phasing out" support until 2013, when it will be phased out completely. The regions that received funds through the Convergence criterion and that are now above the 75% threshold are receiving increasing funds through the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective.[10].
Territorial cohesion projects
Introduction
The regional policy of the European Union, also called cohesion policy, is the main regional and social investment policy and aims to reduce the socioeconomic and territorial disparities that exist between the regions of the Union.[1] This policy covers all European regions, although these regions belong to different categories, depending mainly on their economic situation.
More than a third of the EU budget is dedicated to this policy, which seeks to eliminate economic, social and territorial disparities within the EU, restructure areas with industrial decline "Deindustrialization (economy)") and diversify rural areas that have declining agriculture.[7] In doing this, EU regional policy is aimed at making regions more competitive, encouraging economic growth and job creation. Politics also plays a role in broader goals for the future, including climate change, energy supply and globalization.
The most important enlargement of the EU took place in May 2004 with ten new Member States, mostly from Central or Eastern Europe, followed by the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007. Most of these countries were poorer at the time than the previous members and this meant a reduction in the average per capita income of the EU, which meant that some regions of the former EU-15 were no longer eligible for Community financial aid, since the majority The regions of the new Member States meet the requirements to receive such funds.[8].
These investments eventually contribute to achieving the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth objectives of the European Green Deal.[9].
History
Objectives 2007-2013
By far the majority of regional policy funds (more than 80%) are dedicated to the regions included in the Convergence objective. This target covers the poorest regions in Europe whose GDP per capita is less than 75% of the EU average. This includes all regions of the new Member States, most of Southern Italy, East Germany, Greece and Portugal, much of Spain, and some parts of the United Kingdom.
The objective of Convergence is aimed at enabling affected regions to catch up with more prosperous EU regions, by reducing economic disparities within the European Union. Examples of projects funded under these goals include improving basic infrastructure, business assistance, construction and modernization of waste and water treatment plants, and improving access to high-speed Internet connections. Regional Convergence projects are supported by three European funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Funds.
This objective covers all European regions that are not covered by the Convergence objective. With 16% of the EU regional policy budget allocated to this objective, its main purpose is to create jobs by promoting competitiveness, and making regions more attractive for companies and investors. Some possible projects include developing environmentally cleaner transport, supporting research centres, universities, small businesses and start-ups, providing training and creating jobs. The funds are managed by both the ERDF and the ESF.
• - Spain – Aragon, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Cantabria, Catalonia, La Rioja "La Rioja (Spain)"), Community of Madrid, Navarra.
• - Sweden – all of it.
• - United Kingdom – Cardiff, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Eastern Scotland, East Midlands, East of England, East Yorkshire (inc. North Lincolnshire), Flintshire, Gibraltar, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Monmouthshire, Newport, North East of England, North East of Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Yorkshire, Powys, Somerset, South East of England, South West of Scotland, Vale of Glamorgan, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Wrexham.
This objective is aimed at reducing the importance of borders within Europe – both between and within countries – by improving regional cooperation. This allows three different types of cooperation: border, transnational and interregional. This objective is by far the least important in purely financial terms, representing only 2.5% of the EU's regional policy budget. It is financed exclusively through the ERDF.
Objectives 2014-2020
On December 17, 2013, the package of laws for regional policy during the period 2014-2020 was approved.[11].
In this new programming period of the Cohesion Policy, the well-known Structural Funds were renamed European Structural and Investment Funds[12] (EEI Funds), placing the following funds under this name:
• - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)[13].
• - European Social Fund (ESF)[14].
• - Cohesion Fund (CF)[15].
• - European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)[16].
• - European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)[17].
As these funds contribute to the 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, they should focus on the priorities specified in the strategy, the main ones being:.
• - Research and innovation.
• - Information and communication technologies (ICT).
• - Support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
• - promotion of a low carbon Economy.
All these funds are managed jointly between the European Commission and the member countries through the so-called Association Agreements. The association agreements lead to a series of operational programs that channel financing either directly to the different regions or through multi-regional programs.
These objectives replace those of the previous period 2007-2013: "Convergence", "Regional competitiveness and employment", and "European territorial cooperation"; which in turn replaced "Objectives 1,2 and 3" of the period 2000-2006.
Since 2020
• - Portal:European Union. Content related to European Union.
• - Cohesion Funds.
• - European Regional Development Fund.
• - European Social Fund.
• - Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units – by how the EU defines regions.
[11] ↑ UE. «Financial Instruments in Cohesion Policy 2014-2020». factsheet fecha=28 de febrero de 2014 (en inglés). Consultado el 11 de junio de 2014. «The legislative package for cohesion policy for 2014-2020 was adopted on 17 December 2013».: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/index_en.cfm
[13] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1301/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , sobre el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional y sobre disposiciones específicas relativas al objetivo de inversión en crecimiento y empleo y por el que se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1080/2006». EUR-Lex. 20 de diciembre de 2013.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1301&from=es
[16] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1305/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , relativo a la ayuda al desarrollo rural a través del Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural (Feader) y por el que se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1698/2005 del Consejo». EUR-Lex.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1305&from=ES
[17] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1303/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , por el que se establecen disposiciones comunes relativas al Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, al Fondo Social Europeo, al Fondo de Cohesión, al Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural y al Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de la Pesca, y por el que se establecen disposiciones generales relativas al Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, al Fondo Social Europeo, al Fondo de Cohesión y al Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de la Pesca, y se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1083/2006 del Consejo». EUR-Lex.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1303&from=ES
With the enlargement of new Member States in 2004 and 2007, the average GDP per capita has decreased. As a result, some former EU 15 regions, which used to receive funding under the Convergence target, are now above the 75% threshold. These regions now receive transitional "phasing out" support until 2013, when it will be phased out completely. The regions that received funds through the Convergence criterion and that are now above the 75% threshold are receiving increasing funds through the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective.[10].
The objective of Convergence is aimed at enabling affected regions to catch up with more prosperous EU regions, by reducing economic disparities within the European Union. Examples of projects funded under these goals include improving basic infrastructure, business assistance, construction and modernization of waste and water treatment plants, and improving access to high-speed Internet connections. Regional Convergence projects are supported by three European funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Funds.
This objective covers all European regions that are not covered by the Convergence objective. With 16% of the EU regional policy budget allocated to this objective, its main purpose is to create jobs by promoting competitiveness, and making regions more attractive for companies and investors. Some possible projects include developing environmentally cleaner transport, supporting research centres, universities, small businesses and start-ups, providing training and creating jobs. The funds are managed by both the ERDF and the ESF.
• - Spain – Aragon, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Cantabria, Catalonia, La Rioja "La Rioja (Spain)"), Community of Madrid, Navarra.
• - Sweden – all of it.
• - United Kingdom – Cardiff, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Eastern Scotland, East Midlands, East of England, East Yorkshire (inc. North Lincolnshire), Flintshire, Gibraltar, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Monmouthshire, Newport, North East of England, North East of Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Yorkshire, Powys, Somerset, South East of England, South West of Scotland, Vale of Glamorgan, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Wiltshire, Wrexham.
This objective is aimed at reducing the importance of borders within Europe – both between and within countries – by improving regional cooperation. This allows three different types of cooperation: border, transnational and interregional. This objective is by far the least important in purely financial terms, representing only 2.5% of the EU's regional policy budget. It is financed exclusively through the ERDF.
Objectives 2014-2020
On December 17, 2013, the package of laws for regional policy during the period 2014-2020 was approved.[11].
In this new programming period of the Cohesion Policy, the well-known Structural Funds were renamed European Structural and Investment Funds[12] (EEI Funds), placing the following funds under this name:
• - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)[13].
• - European Social Fund (ESF)[14].
• - Cohesion Fund (CF)[15].
• - European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)[16].
• - European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)[17].
As these funds contribute to the 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, they should focus on the priorities specified in the strategy, the main ones being:.
• - Research and innovation.
• - Information and communication technologies (ICT).
• - Support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
• - promotion of a low carbon Economy.
All these funds are managed jointly between the European Commission and the member countries through the so-called Association Agreements. The association agreements lead to a series of operational programs that channel financing either directly to the different regions or through multi-regional programs.
These objectives replace those of the previous period 2007-2013: "Convergence", "Regional competitiveness and employment", and "European territorial cooperation"; which in turn replaced "Objectives 1,2 and 3" of the period 2000-2006.
Since 2020
• - Portal:European Union. Content related to European Union.
• - Cohesion Funds.
• - European Regional Development Fund.
• - European Social Fund.
• - Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units – by how the EU defines regions.
[11] ↑ UE. «Financial Instruments in Cohesion Policy 2014-2020». factsheet fecha=28 de febrero de 2014 (en inglés). Consultado el 11 de junio de 2014. «The legislative package for cohesion policy for 2014-2020 was adopted on 17 December 2013».: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/fin_inst/index_en.cfm
[13] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1301/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , sobre el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional y sobre disposiciones específicas relativas al objetivo de inversión en crecimiento y empleo y por el que se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1080/2006». EUR-Lex. 20 de diciembre de 2013.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1301&from=es
[16] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1305/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , relativo a la ayuda al desarrollo rural a través del Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural (Feader) y por el que se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1698/2005 del Consejo». EUR-Lex.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1305&from=ES
[17] ↑ «Reglamento (UE) n ° 1303/2013 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, de 17 de diciembre de 2013 , por el que se establecen disposiciones comunes relativas al Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, al Fondo Social Europeo, al Fondo de Cohesión, al Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural y al Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de la Pesca, y por el que se establecen disposiciones generales relativas al Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, al Fondo Social Europeo, al Fondo de Cohesión y al Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de la Pesca, y se deroga el Reglamento (CE) n ° 1083/2006 del Consejo». EUR-Lex.: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ES/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1303&from=ES