European Cohesion Policy

What are the prospects for territorial cohesion policy as a complementary objective to economic and social cohesion policy, asks Jean-François Drevet here. He first outlines the analytical actions and tools for the territory of Europe created within the framework of Community regional policy — European Regional Development Fund, Interreg programme, Green Paper etc. — then, comparing it with existing arrangements, reflects on the possible implementation of the new territorial cohesion objective, which he sees as a priority. This objective “introduces a concern for balance that aims to provide territories, and hence populations, with guarantees of access to infrastructures and social services, which”, he concludes, “are one of the foundations of democracy and economic efficiency”.