Policy context
The European Commission's cohesion policy is formed based on 7-year programming periods. It is delivered through a number of specific funds. The present programming period covers the years 2021 to 2027.
For this period, the allocation of funds uses a method that is largely based on regional gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant in purchasing power standards. However, a set of new criteria has been added to better reflect the challenges faced by each region. This includes:
- youth unemployment
- low education levels
- climate change
- reception and integration of migrants.
Cohesion policy covers every NUTS level 2 region in the EU. However, most of the funds are targeted where they are most needed, namely at less developed regions where GDP per inhabitant was less than 75 % of the EU average.