Structural Funds should continue to support competitiveness

摘要

In conclusions set to be adopted at the next General Affairs Council, on 14 June, the 27 member states declare that the Union's future Cohesion Policy should focus on the less prosperous regions but also continue to support "competitiveness, innovation, employment and economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union". Although this view is expressed very cautiously - and "without prejudice to the future financial framework" - it represents an openness to a cohesion policy that continues to concern numerous EU regions. The draft conclusions, which are supported by all the delegations, also show that the Council is willing to discuss the situation of so-called 'transition' regions, ie those that no longer meet the criteria for aid to the least developed regions but whose GDP is still below the EU average.