Whithin the framework of the current debate on the future of the European Cohesion policy it is important to look at the goals that cohesion policy should pursue to meet the challenges of the 21st century. One of the difficult policy issues is whether relatively richer regions should be eligible for expenditure from the Structural Funds, especially if these richer regions also happen to be in relatively prosperous Member States. That is the contentious question raised by the latest working paper on regional research and indicators produced by the European Commission’s DG REGIO. Much of the debate turns on whether Cohesion Policy is understood as being predominantly about distributive transfers or as a policy that is intended to promote economic change and development. What is the primary role of Cohesion Policy, distributive, allocative? The question remains open…
Laura Caldironi, URBACT Communication Officer
