EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - EP approve cohesion policy guidelines

EP approve cohesion policy guidelines

29-09-2006

On 27 September, the European Parliament has approved the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion 2007-2013. The guidelines contain the principles and priorities of cohesion policy and suggest ways in which European regions and cities can take full advantage of the 308 billion euros that have been made available for national and regional aid programmes over the next seven years. The European Council is expected to approve the guidelines in October 2006.

National authorities will use the guidelines as the basis for drafting their national strategic priorities and planning for 2007-2013, the so called National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRFs), and their Operational Programmes. According to the guidelines and in line with the renewed Lisbon strategy, programmes co-financed through the cohesion policy should seek to target resources on the following three priorities:

improving the attractiveness of Member States, regions and cities by improving accessibility, ensuring adequate quality and level of services, and preserving their environmental potential;
encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy by research and innovation capacities, including new information and communication technologies;
creating more and better jobs by attracting more people into employment entrepreneurial activity, improving adaptability of workers and enterprises and increasing investment in human capital.

More growth and jobs for all regions and cities of the European Union – this message will be at the heart of cohesion policy and its instruments between 2007 and 2013. During that period, the greatest investment ever made by the EU through cohesion instruments will be worth 308 billion euros (in 2004 prices) to support regional growth agendas and to stimulate job creation.

82% of the total amount will be concentrated on the “Convergence” objective, under which the poorest Member States and regions are eligible. In the remaining regions, about 16% of the Structural Funds will be concentrated to support innovation, sustainable development, better accessibility and training projects under the “Regional Competitiveness and Employment” objective. Another 2.5% finally are available for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation under the “European Territorial Cooperation” objective.

Source: InfoRegio

Links
Download the Guidelines on the DG Regional Policy website Visit the DG Regional Policy website for an overview of the Structural Funds Regulations 2007-2013

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