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European Cohesion policy is one of the key instruments for the fair deployment of EU Structural Funds and other European funding streams for social and economic developments across the European territory.

In accordance with Article 158 of the Treaty, the prime objective of Cohesion Policy is to reduce disparities in the level of development between the regions in Europe. The recent enlargement to 27 Member States, with Bulgaria and Romania having joined the Union in 2007, has dramatically increased disparity levels across the EU. The new Member States have markedly lower levels of income per head and employment rates than other EU countries. At the same time, they have displayed considerable dynamism in recent years, achieving high rates of growth in both GDP and productivity.

EU Cohesion policy
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/index_en.htm

Cohesion policy in the South West
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/atlas/united_kingdom/ukk_en.htm

Cohesion Policy 2007 – 2013
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/funds/2007/index_en.htm

Cohesion Policy 2007 –2013 Powerpoint Presentation
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/2007/osc/0506guidelines_en.ppt