Results-oriented Cohesion Policy

Background

In an opinion adopted by the ECO section, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) provided key recommendations to strengthen the results orientation of post-2027 cohesion policy. The opinion highlights challenges, risks, and opportunities in modernising the policy, ensuring greater sustainable competitiveness while maintaining its core focus on reducing regional inequalities.

Key points

In the opinion, the EESC

  • considers that EU cohesion policy should be modernised and adjusted to reflect development trends and needs, ensuring a balance between sustainable competitiveness and inclusivity;
  • emphasises the necessity of maintaining and increasing the share of the EU budget allocated to cohesion policy in the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to address regional disparities;
  • calls for a results-based approach that strengthens efficiency and effectiveness in allocating cohesion policy resources, ensuring visible socio-economic benefits;
  • points to the need for a transparent and simplified policy environment that enhances stakeholder involvement, particularly civil society, in programming, implementation, and monitoring;
  • stresses the importance of social investments, access to quality public services, and tackling demographic challenges as key elements of future cohesion policy;
  • underlines that convergence and sustainable competitiveness should not be viewed as contradictory but rather as complementary goals that drive economic growth and social well-being.

Additional information

EESC section: Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)

Opinion type: Exploratory opinion (at the request of the Polish Presidency)

Rapporteur: David SVENTEK

Co-rapporteur: Florian MARIN

Reference: ECO/654-EESC-2024-2024-03481

Date of adoption by section: 6/2/2025

Date of adoption in plenary: 26-27/2/2025

Contact

Thomas Kersten

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 (0) 2 546 8931

Email: thomas.kersten@eesc.europa.eu

Georgios Meleas

Policy Officer

Tel.: +32 (0) 25469795

Email: eco@eesc.europa.eu