The Future of the Eu Cohesion Policy: How Much, What for and How?

This article addresses the ongoing debate on the future of the EU cohesion policy and changes in its management rules, as anticipated by the European Commission, for the period after 2013. There are many reasons to assume that the cohesion policy has entered a new stage of development, as its future outlook will depend much on the intensity of the current economic crisis, the financial difficulties of EU Member States, the ruling atmosphere of euroscepticism and the lack of European solidarity. For supporters of a strong EU cohesion policy, it is as much of a challenge to demonstrate its positive effects on all European regions as it is to introduce the necessary reforms to make it even more effective, modern and central to realising the Europe 2020 strategy.