Cohesion policy

The European Commission has proposed to allocate up to €11.3 billion over the period 2007-2013 by establishing a 'growth adjustment fund" of around €1 billion a yer to provide support to people and regions affected by economic change.

 

The European Commission proposes also that Member States create a reserve of up to 1% of the "convergence" and 3% of the "competitiveness" budgets (respectively around €2,6 billions and €1,7 billion) for unforeseen restructuring consequences.

 

This Fund will focus on key objectives such as increasing the skills of workers and enterprises, preventing unemployment and promoting partnership. In least prosperous regions, classified 'Objective 1" in the current structural funding, it will concentrate on promoting growth, job creation and on dealing with structural adjustment.

 

According to Vladimir Å pidla, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the Commission's aim is "to invest in regions so they can meet the economic challenges of the future".

 

The Commission's Communication highlights three areas where EU action can help:
- More focused co-ordination between EU policies (employment, industrial and
enterprise, trade and competition policies);
- Adapting the regulatory framework including a Green Paper on the Evolution of Labour Law in 2006;
- Developing partnerships notably through the establishment of a European -Restructuring Forum' comprising the main stakeholders.

 

More information :

 

Communication de la Commission

GD Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities

CEMR's activities in the field of regional policy