Suche
Mein Konto
European Cohesion Policy: Future strategies for strong regions!
Find out how EU cohesion policy aims to reduce economic and social imbalances by 2028, while new financial challenges await.
European Cohesion Policy: Future strategies for strong regions!
What is currently going on in European politics? Important decisions will be made on July 14, 2025, particularly regarding EU cohesion policy. This area, which has existed since the 1960s with the European Social Fund (ESF), aims to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Member States and reduce regional imbalances. According to dihk.de, cohesion policy makes up almost a third of the EU budget and will be discussed significantly in the coming week.
What significance does cohesion policy have in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which is to be presented by the EU Commission on July 16th? This new period, which runs from 2028 to 2034, will not only be viewed from a financial perspective, but could also have a decisive impact on environmental issues. The Umweltbundesamt highlights in its current report that 30 percent of the funds should be used for climate measures, which means that cohesion policy also serves as a lever for ecological concerns in all EU regions.
The challenges and changes
Despite the positive approaches, there are also concerns. It is up for debate whether cohesion policy will be weakened by possible financial cuts in favor of defense spending. The discussion about greater centralization of the management of cohesion funds is in full swing. Centralization could lead to the regions' scope for action being restricted. This poses the risk that fewer tailor-made solutions can be developed for regional challenges.
A key point is the high administrative burden associated with applying for funds from programs such as the ERDF and ESF. Many players here are calling for standardization and digitalization of procedures. The idea is to create more flexibility and targeted support for companies to make it easier to use the funds and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
Core goals in view
In order to make cohesion policy fit for the future, adjustments to the content are necessary. A return to clear core goals is considered necessary. Key approaches that are intended to help strengthen competitiveness include investments in infrastructure, the promotion of skilled workers and targeted training measures. Another issue is the balance between crisis reactions and well-thought-out program planning, which can also give impetus to Europe's ability to innovate. The Umweltbundesamt emphasizes that taking environmental and climate issues into account not only supports competitiveness, but also promotes social satisfaction and a healthy environment.
In the coming months, European, national and regional actors will intensively debate developments in cohesion policy. According to the EU Commission's proposals, negotiations with the EU Parliament and the Council are necessary. However, a final agreement must be confirmed unanimously by the member states and by a majority vote by the European Parliament. It is important that the interests of the commercial economy are not lost sight of.
The upcoming decisions could have far-reaching consequences for the regions and their development. It will therefore be exciting to see how the negotiations develop and what priorities are set in the end.