Brussels, 28 November 2024
Cohesion policy and demographic challenges
As part of ongoing discussions about the future of cohesion policy, the Council approved conclusions on the role of cohesion policy in addressing demographic challenges in the EU.
The conclusions complement the Council’s previous conclusions regarding the future of cohesion policy and are intended to inform the Commission’s work on the next cohesion legislative framework.
In its conclusions, the Council acknowledges that demographic challenges may significantly affect economic, social, and territorial cohesion, as well as the resilience and competitiveness of the EU as a whole.
The Council underlines that policy responses to demographic challenges should align with the EU’s strategic priorities, while also taking into account local and regional realities, and be designed and implemented with the active involvement of national, regional, and local authorities. It therefore considers that cohesion policy should play an essential role in addressing demographic change in the future.
The Commission is invited to explore different areas of support and to enhance synergies among cohesion policy funds after 2027 to address the issue, including by strengthening integrated territorial approaches.
Cohesion policy is a key priority of the Hungarian presidency. It enhances EU competitiveness and helps address demographic challenges, such as depopulation and brain drain, facing many regions in Europe. With today’s conclusions, we urge the Commission to ensure that cohesion policy will play its full role in addressing demographic challenges in the future.
Tibor Navracsics, Hungarian Minister for Public Administration and Regional Development
Management of cohesion funds post-2027
Ministers also discussed how to strengthen the key assets of cohesion policy and improve the shared management of cohesion funds in line with the principle of subsidiarity in the future. The exchange of views was based on a presidency background paper.
During the discussion, ministers underlined the importance they attach to shared management, multilevel governance, and the partnership principle in cohesion policy. They stressed the need to involve local and regional stakeholders in both the design and implementation of the policy to ensure ownership and the policy’s effectiveness. In this context, many speakers argued against a possible centralisation.
The importance of preserving a place-based approach and the long-term nature of cohesion policy was also underlined, as well as the need to find the right balance between the strategic priorities of the EU and the development needs of all regions, especially the less developed regions.
Some ministers were also open to providing strong incentives for the implementation of structural reforms in member states and to strengthening a performance-based approach to cohesion policy, without however compromising its regional dimension.
Any other business
Under ‘any other business’, the German delegation informed ministers about a non-paper supported by five member states on territorial design and the implementation of Structural Funds Programmes.
The Lithuanian delegation briefed ministers on a joint declaration by four member states on EU regions bordering Russia and Belarus.
Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Source – EU Council