Regional policy

In recognition of the importance of regional policy, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (EU) devotes 5 articles to ‘economic, social and territorial cohesion’ (Articles 174–178).

The EU cohesion and regional policy strengthens economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU Member States and regions by supporting job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and green and digital transition. 

To reach these goals, the EU has set aside €392 billion for its economic, social and territorial cohesion, delivered through specific funds for the period 2021–2027.

• • Regional policy – rules & funds
    • European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds (2021–2027)
    • Regional policy 2021-2027
      • European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021–2027)
      • Common rules on EU funds (2021–2027)
      • Common rules for the European Structural and Investment Funds (2014–2020)
      • IPA III: the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (2021–2027)
      • The Just Transition Fund
      • Strengthening innovation in Europe’s regions: Strategies for resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth
      • Brexit adjustment reserve
      • European Social Fund Plus – ESF+ (2021–2027)
    • Regional policy 2014-2020
      • European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014–2020)
      • Common rules for the European Structural and Investment Funds (2014–2020)
      • Cohesion Fund (2014-20)
      • European Social Fund
      • European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
      • European Regional Development Fund (2014-2020)
  • Regional policy – management & implementation
    • Funding period 2021-2027
      • Strengthening European territorial cooperation
      • Interreg – Supporting cooperation across borders (2021–2027)
      • Public sector loan facility under the just transition mechanism
      • The European Neighbourhood Instrument (2014–2020)
    • EU Structural & Investment Funds, 2014-2020
      • European Structural and Investment Funds — working in partnerships
      • e-Cohesion — electronic and paperless administration
      • Climate change support and performance targets for ESI funds
      • Cross-border regional cooperation — eligibility for funding
      • Specific rules on eligibility of expenditure for European territorial cooperation (ETC) programmes
      • Rules on reimbursing EU countries for European Social Fund expenses
      • Thematic objectives for the ESI Funds
      • Terms and conditions for off-the-shelf financial instruments
      • Structural Funds – annual breakdown of total resources by country, 2014-2020
      • Sustainable urban development: innovative projects
      • Strengthening European territorial cooperation
      • Flat rates applicable to revenue-generating research, development and innovation operations financed by the structural funds
      • Guidelines for submitting development programmes
      • Guidance on Joint Action Plans
      • Information about EU-funded cohesion policy projects — rules and models
      • Implementing the small and medium-sized enterprises initiative
      • ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund, EAFRD and EMFF (2014-2020) — Reporting of irregularities, irrecoverable amounts & information and communication measures
      • European territorial cooperation programmes — financial allocation
  • Related instruments
    • European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility
    • Connecting Europe Facility (2021-2027)
    • InvestEU Programme (2021–2027)
    • Interreg – Supporting cooperation across borders (2021–2027)
    • REACT-EU — Recovery assistance for cohesion and the territories of Europe
    • Single Market Programme
    • The European Union Solidarity Fund
    • Structural reform support programme
    • Guidelines on regional State aid
    • European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC)
    • EU Technical Support Instrument (2021-2027)
  • Regional policy and EU economy
    • 2022 European semester: spring package
    • Economic and financial crisis — Regional and urban dimension
  • Territorial Strategies
    • The EU’s outermost regions
      • The EU’s outermost regions
    • Macro-regional strategies
      • European Union Strategy for the Danube Region
      • The Arctic region — new EU policy agenda
      • EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
      • EU strategy for the Alpine region
      • EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region
    • Urban Strategies
      • EU cohesion policy — the urban dimension
      • Cities’ involvement in making and implementing EU policies
  • European statistics
    • European Union system of national and regional accounts
    • Common rules for the collection of census data on population and housing
    • Common classification of territorial units for statistical purposes (NUTS)
  • Archived summaries
    • URBAN II
    • Innovative actions under the ERDF: 2000-06
    • EU policy towards the Arctic region
    • ERDF: European Regional Development Fund
    • ESDP
    • ESF: European Social Fund.
    • European Union strategic guidelines for rural development
    • EU Solidarity Fund annual report - summary
    • European Fisheries Fund
    • EU economic, social and territorial cohesion - 7th report
    • EU framework for state aid in the form of public service compensation
    • EU guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network
    • European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
    • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2007-2013)
    • 10 questions for debate
    • 2000-06: support for rural development within the framework of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
    • 2020 climate and energy package
    • 2020 European semester: country-specific recommendations
    • 2021 European semester: country-specific recommendations
    • A European initiative for growth
    • A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (2005)
    • A stronger partnership for the outermost regions
    • Allocation of the performance reserve
    • State aid: EU guidelines for regional aid for 2014 to 2020
    • Overhaul for EU Solidarity Fund
    • Northern Ireland: PEACE II programme (2000-2006)
    • Objective 1
    • Objective 2
    • Objective 3
    • Making financial corrections
    • Management and control systems for assistance granted under the Structural Funds
    • National regional investment aid
    • Fourth progress report on cohesion: The Growth and Jobs Strategy and the Reform of European cohesion policy
    • Fourth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion
    • FIFG: Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance
    • Fifth progress report on economic and social cohesion
    • Further indicative guidelines for the future Member States
    • General provisions ERDF - ESF - Cohesion Fund (2007-2013)
    • General provisions on the Structural Funds
    • Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs (first report)
    • Improving information on assistance from the Structural Funds
    • Green Paper on Services of General Interest
    • Green paper on Territorial Cohesion
    • Guidelines for programmes in 2000-2006
    • Guidelines for trans-European telecommunications networks
    • Guidelines on national regional aid for 2007-2013
    • Financing the common agricultural policy
    • First Progress Report on Economic and Social Cohesion
    • Boosting entrepreneurship of European SMEs — COSME programme
    • Tying EU funding to sound economic governance
    • Strategy for sustainable development
    • The impact of EU investment on jobs and growth
    • Structural indicators
    • The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)
    • The Lisbon Special European Council (March 2000): Towards a Europe of Innovation and Knowledge
    • Structural policy reform
    • Supporting telecommunications networks and digital service infrastructures across Europe
    • The outermost regions: an asset for Europe
    • The Community Lisbon Programme
    • Third progress report on cohesion - towards a new partnership for growth, jobs and cohesion
    • Third Report on economic and social cohesion: proposals for regional policy after 2006
    • Third report on economic and social cohesion: the socio-economic situation of the Union and the impact of European and national policies
    • Trans-European energy networks
    • The European Social Fund (2007-2013)
    • The financing of the common agricultural policy (CAP)
    • Tripartite contracts and agreements
    • Reform of the EU State aid rules on Services of General Economic Interest
    • Specific measures to encourage Greece’s recovery
    • Promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
    • Regional Policy serving innovation
    • Regions for economic change
    • Second progress report on economic and social cohesion
    • Second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion - an assessment
    • Second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion: conclusions and recommendations
    • Review, challenges and strategy for the outermost regions
    • Revised guidelines for 2000-2006 programmes
    • Preparing the future Member States to implement the regional policy in the period 2004-2006
    • Simplification, clarification, coordination and flexible management of the structural policies
    • Sixth progress report on economic and social cohesion
    • Rules for the application of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Cohesion Fund (2007-2013)
    • Social services of general interest
    • Specific measures for the outermost regions
    • Specific measures in favour of the smaller Aegean islands
    • Interinstitutional Agreement on cooperation in budgetary matters
    • Interoperability of the conventional rail system
    • Interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system
    • INTERREG III (2000-2006)
    • INTERREG III C
    • IPA II: the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance 2014-2020
    • LEADER+
    • Capitalising on European research and innovation
    • Connecting Europe Facility
    • Connecting the infrastructure network
    • Eligibility of expenditure of operations part-financed by the Structural Funds
    • Detailed rules for the implementation of the EFF Regulation
    • Cohesion Fund
    • Cohesion Fund (2007-2013)
    • Cohesion policy and cities
    • Cohesion policy — dialogue with regional and local authorities
    • Cohesion Policy in support of growth and jobs - Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-13
    • Cohesion Policy: investing in the real economy
    • Cohesion Policy to deliver the Europe 2020 Strategy (2014-2020)
    • Cohesion policy to deliver the Lisbon Strategy (2007-2013)
    • Community action for regions bordering the candidate countries
    • Community financial aid to trans-European networks
    • EQUAL
    • White Paper on services of general interest