Building blocks for a future cohesion policy : first reflections : research for REGI Committee

The reform of the EU budget and policy priorities in the post-2020 MFF comes at a difficult time for the EU with major internal and external challenges. The challenges for economic, social and territorial cohesion remain profound. However, there are also competing pressures on the EU budget, such as keeping net payers' contributions within acceptable limits and striking the right balance between overarching EU goals and new challenges. Once again, Cohesion Policy is under pressure to justify its value in relation to EU political objectives. This study discusses the main themes relating to post-2020 Cohesion Policy, the rationale and overall framework of the policy, current and future challenges, and the post-2020 delivery system.