Cohesion policy in 2014-2020. New „quality” of european integration

Abstract

As it always happens in the times of economic difficulties, discussions on further European integration re-emerge. It is more difficult then to find a common, pro-European vision of Europe, free from the dictate of current, individual interests of Member States. This very moment in Europe encourages reflecting upon further development scenarios of the European Union determined in fact by the pressure of the economic crisis. The cohesion policy will be the main development tool. In October 2011 European Commission adopted a package of legislative proposals outlining the Commision’s vision of the future shape of the cohesion policy for the period 2014-2020. The concept of the cohesion policy for the future programming period as proposed by the Commission is, on the one hand, consistent with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and, on the other hand, it makes reference to the postulate of implementing a place-based development policy from the so called Barca Report. New vision of the cohesion policy proposed by the Commission makes reference to the main tasks of the European Union identified in Europe 2020, i.e.: climate protection, sustainable development, innovation and knowledge-based economy, improved competitiveness of SMEs.