One of the EU’s main objectives is to promote
economic, social and territorial cohesion between
regions. The reformed EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020
comes at a pivotal moment, after recent years of
austerity which have seen rising unemployment and
widening inequality, especially in peripheral regions,
with youth, women and ethnic minorities worst
affected.
Making over €350 billion available to invest in Europe’s regions and cities, the
Policy is the EU’s principal investment tool to deliver the Europe 2020 goals:
creating growth and jobs, tackling climate change and energy dependence,
reducing poverty and social exclusion. Once member states’ national
contributions and the leverage effect of financial instruments are taken into
account, the impact is likely to be over €500 billion.
Salzburg Global Seminar and DG Regio teamed up in May 2014 for an inaugural
program called Mind the Gap! Innovating for Regional Cohesion and Smart Growth.
