THE EUROPEAN UNION’S REGIONAL AND COHESION POLICY IN 2007-2013

Regional policy puts into practice the solidarity between the people and the countries of Europe and sustains the achievement of one of the fundamental objectives: the strengthening of the EU’s economic and social cohesion by reducing developmental; disparities between its regions. For the period 2007-2013, the Commission proposes to concentrate its priorities in three areas, with a global budget of approx. 336 billion euros: Convergence will stimulate growth and employment in the less developed regions; Competitiveness will anticipate changes in the rest of the EU and will include a regional component; for which a member state will select beneficiary zones and a national component based on the European Employment Strategy; Cooperation will draw on the experiences acquired by INTERREG to encourage harmonious development through the EU territory.