Brussels ( Brussels Morning) – The European Commission’s 9th Cohesion Report highlights progress in reducing regional disparities, enhancing economic growth, and addressing challenges such as demographic shifts and digital transitions.
The European Commission published the 9th Cohesion, offering an assessment of the state of cohesion in the Union. Great improvement has been made in decreasing gaps between Member States and territories, maintaining the EU single market and assuring that the EU continues to fund human capital and sustainable development. Harnessing the maximum potential of each region supports the competitiveness and strength of the Union as a whole.
Every three years, the Commission disseminates its report on cohesion; a report which evaluates the current state of the EU’s economic, social and territorial cohesion, shows progress made and lessons realised and shows the position of the EU as a driver of regional development.
Since its inception, the EU has rested on an ideal of solidarity, equal opportunities, and cohesion. This is why the Treaty of Rome established the goal of “reducing the differences existing between the different regions and the backwardness of the less-favoured regions.”
The growth of 2004 is emblematic of the success of the Cohesion Policy. 20 years after the 2004 enlargement the EU’s Cohesion Policy has conducted remarkable convergence. In Central and Eastern Europe as a whole, income per head advanced from 52% of the EU average in 2004 to nearly 80% today. At the same time, their unemployment rate has declined from 13% to 4%. In stark difference with the 2009 recession, GDP has strongly recovered after the pandemic outbreak. However, the speed of economic convergence has persistently restricted after the 2009 recession. The result of the 2009 recession on the intersection, of investment and GDP has indeed been a significant and persistent one.
In this challenging context, the Cohesion Policy has recreated a pivotal role in the overall progress of economic, employment and social arrows in the EU. Cohesion Policy plays a key position in supporting public investment. During the 2014-2020 period, the policy meant almost 13 % of total government acquisition in the EU as a whole and 51 % in less extended Member States. These investments have supported the European growth model, stimulating economic growth in line with critical policy priorities from the twin transition to innovation, enterprise, and skills, from childcare, education and health to safety from natural disasters.
However, challenges remain and untapped prospects and bags of poverty can be found in every area. Demographic changes will impact all regions in the future decades. Regions will have to adapt to a shrinking labour force and an aged population. The challenges grow to be more critical in rural and thinly populated regions. Similarly, the results of the digital transition and climate change are possible to exacerbate regional differences in the EU. Within this context, the requirement to ensure economic cohesion, which has been glorified in the EU since The Treaty of Rome of 1957, remains as pertinent as ever.
The European Commission’s 9th Cohesion Report underscores significant strides in reducing disparities among Member States and territories while emphasizing the continued importance of solidarity and cohesion. Despite the challenges ahead, the EU remains committed to fostering economic growth, social development, and regional convergence to ensure a resilient and prosperous future for all.
