In November 2023, the Council set out its position on the future development of cohesion policy. On this occasion, it recalled the crucial role of cohesion policy in the face of recent crises, and considered that it should be able to adapt to new developments and unforeseen events. The regions face many challenges: demographic trends, migration, the ecological and digital transition, as well as investment in growth-enhancing reforms.
The debate intensified following the creation of a high-level expert group on cohesion policy, as well as the publication of the Commission’s latest report on cohesion on March 27, highlighting several points:
- Among the least-developed regions, in addition to those in Eastern Europe which have most recently joined the Union, are several in Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal. Some regions in the South have seen their GDP per capita fall further behind the European average. However, Eastern European regions and the three Baltic states are catching up economically. In addition, disparities between urban and rural areas have shown a similar dynamic.
- Large disparities in employment levels between women and men remain in the least developed regions, as do disparities in political representation.
- Economic losses due to extreme weather events in Europe have exceeded the entire budget allocated to the environmental pillar of cohesion policy for 2021-2027.
- Divergence between member states has widened in the field of digital and technological transition.
The European Commission is planning to reassess the governance of future programs to ensure that their impact is more in line with the specific needs of territories, that they take account of their diversity, and that they guarantee better access to these programs for local, intermediate and regional authorities.
Against this backdrop, the European Confederation of Intermediate Local Authorities will be holding its annual policy conference on April 23 in Lucca, Italy. Two topics will be on the agenda:
- The issues and challenges of future cohesion policy.
- From the EU to the local level: the role of intermediate authorities in shaping the new cohesion policy for more resilient territories.
