Subsidiarity monitoring in the area of economic, social and territorial cohesion 

Legal basis

 

Under the Treaty of Lisbon, this policy has been categorised as a shared competence between the Union and the Member States (Article 4 TFEU).

 

The objective of reducing disparities between development levels across the EU's various regions, which is a key characteristic of economic and social cohesion policy, first appeared as early as the Preamble to the Treaty of Rome (1957). Yet it was not until almost thirty years later, in the Single European Act (1986), that economic and social cohesion was finally included as a specific objective in itself along with the objective of achieving the single market. This policy area was formally institutionalised in the Treaty of Maastricht (1992).

 

Although economic and social cohesion was enshrined under Title XVII of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC), the Committee of the Regions has brought the additional concept of "territorial cohesion" into the Community's lexicon. Specifically, territorial cohesion refers to the process of ensuring overall harmonious development between and within all regions of the European Union and enabling their inhabitants to take full advantage of their specific characteristics. Although the first reference was made to territorial cohesion in the Treaty of Amsterdam (Article 16 TEC on services of general economic interest), the principle has only recently been fully enshrined through the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon. In addition, the concept is now listed among the Union's objectives in the Treaty on European Union (Article 3 TEU) and in the new Article 174 TFEU. As well as defining the essential objectives of this policy, Article 174 TFEU has been extended to include  a paragraph listing the types of region which require particular attention. The Treaty specifically refers to regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.

 

Economic, social and territorial cohesion is an expression of the solidarity between the Union's Member States and regions. It encourages balanced development across the EU, the reduction of structural disparities between regions and the promotion of genuinely equal opportunities for all individuals. The objectives of cohesion policy are convergence, regional competitiveness and employment and the blend of support for cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation which is known as "European territorial cooperation". The Union pursues these objectives through various means, including diverse forms of financial support, particularly the Structural Funds (the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund), the Cohesion Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development).

 

Every three years, the European Commission presents a report to the European Parliament, the Council, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee assessing the progress made towards economic and social cohesion, including the contribution made by Community policies.

The European Parliament and the Council define the tasks, priority objectives and organisation of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Funds  acting by means of regulation in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure based on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee. The same procedure applies for implementing regulations relating to the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund.

 

In 2006, a new European legal instrument – the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) was established to facilitate and promote cross border, transnational and inter-regional cooperation. In accordance with its specific consultative remit in the area of cross-border cooperation (Article 265 of the EC Treaty), the Committee of the Regions was one of the driving forces behind this initiative. Specifically, the EGTC is a new legal instrument which enables local and regional authorities from different Member States to set up cooperation groupings with a legal personality.

 

In March 2007, the CoR set up an EGTC Expert Group to monitor the adoption and implementation of provisions at Member State level, facilitate the exchange of experiences and share knowledge of best practices in the field, identify the potential use of the EGTC as a tool for cohesive territorial development and improve communication on EGTC opportunities and challenges at territorial level.

 

Click here for comprehensive information on the EGTC, and for the results of meetings, information, analyses and reports on the activities of the Expert Group established by the CoR.

 

Further information on the CoR's work in this area

The CoR commission responsible for work in this area is the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy (COTER). Click here for comprehensive information about this commission, its work programme and activities.