Introduced in the Single European Act of 1986, the policy of economic and social cohesion, whose sphere of activity extends over several areas including: infrastructure, employment or environmental preservation, is the spearhead of the reduction of regional disparities in Europe.

 

• This map shows the distribution of structural funds by objectives for the programming period 2007-2013. Convergence regions (red), where the objective is to 'promote growth-enhancing conditions and factors leading to real convergence for the least-developed Member States and regions' are characterized by a GDP per capita (SPA) lower than 75% of the EU average (EU27 = 100). This objective concerns 84 regions in 17 Member States, with 154 millions of inhabitants. Regions of Competitiveness and Employment objective (in blue) aim 'at strengthening competitiveness and attractiveness, as well as employment'. 168 regions are affected by this goal 314 millions people. Policy is the second budget of European Union with 35.6%, or 347 billions euros of funds out of a total of 863 billions euros for the programming period 2007-2013.
• In a context of EU enlargement, the evolution of the Structural Funds (ERDF and ESF) allocated by the four countries on programming periods of cohesion policy since its reform in 1988. With globalization and of widening gaps at the subregional level, this map shows the importance of maintaining the political cohesion especially in regions that have recently joined the European Union.