The need for a reform of the future EU Cohesion Policy: Putting our money where our mouth is - Position paper of the European Environmental NGO Coalition for Sustainable EU Funds

This position paper, prepared by the European NGO Coalition for Sustainable EU Funds focuses on the most urgent steps needed in order to reshape Cohesion policy, the primary EU instrument to foster innovation, towards a new development approach. This new approach must extend beyond economic growth as the key, or even sole, determinant of success.

Cohesion policy still focuses mainly on economic and infrastructure investments to address regional disparities and deliver economic growth. But the formula of lasting economic growth to increase the common European prosperity and well-being is now being increasingly questioned.

The upcoming negotiations on the post-2013 cohesion policy are a unique opportunity to gear EU policy and budget towards a more long term sustainability path. To reach this goal, it will not be enough to improve the current performance but to shape a new thinking towards a cohesion that reflects our ecological limits to growth.