Mid-term review of cohesion policy: Focus on strategic objectives

The European Commission is proposing to target regional and structural policy funding towards strategic priorities. The proposal will now go to the Parliament and the Member States for consideration.

In its mid-term review of the cohesion policy programming period, the European Commission proposes changes to existing legislation and encourages member states to adapt their regional and structural policy programs so that they better meet the EU’s strategic objectives, including competitiveness, defense, affordable housing and clean energy transition.

In terms of narrowing the innovation gap and increasing competitiveness, the Commission proposes ERDF support for large companies in critical areas such as strategic technologies and decarbonization. For the defense industry and the eastern border regions, it proposes support by enabling cohesion policy funds to be allocated to promoting military mobility. The Commission wants to support affordable housing by doubling the use of cohesion policy funds for affordable housing. In terms of water resilience, the Commission encourages member states to invest more, for example in digital solutions for water infrastructure. The Commission wants to accelerate the energy transition by supporting the construction of charging stations and the development of submarine cables.

The changes in the Commission’s mid-term review will not enter into force as such, as the European Parliament and the Council of the Member States still need to approve the proposal.