Regulation on Cohesion

An EU Regulation sets out the objectives for the EU’s Cohesion Fund for the funding period 2014-20. The Fund is one of the EU’s financial instruments that aim to narrow the disparities in development between the regions.

Regulation (EU) No 1300/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the Cohesion Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1084/2006.

The Cohesion Fund provides support for the poorer regions of the EU with a view to promoting growth, employment and sustainable development. Member States with a gross national income (GNI) per inhabitant below 90 % of the EU average are eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund. The ceiling for the Cohesion Fund’s contribution to public expenditure in the Member States is set at 85 %.

Fields of activity

The Cohesion Fund co-finances action to:

  • develop trans-European transport networks;
  • further the EU’s environmental objectives, i.e. the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy and
  • support for sustainable transport projects which do not form part of trans-European transport networks;
    provide technical assistance.

Investment priorities include projects that promote:

  • a low-carbon economy;
  • climate change adaptation,
  • risk prevention and management;
  • environmental protection/conservation.
  • sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks.

A total of EUR 10 billion will be available in the funding period 2014-20 to co-finance transport infrastructure projects of European added value provided for in the Connecting Europe Facility Regulation (No 1316/2013)

Eligible expenditure

Eligibility is decided at national level. However, the following types of expenditure are not eligible for Cohesion Fund financing:

  • the decommissioning or the construction of nuclear power stations;
  • investment to achieve the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities covered by the Emissions Trade Scheme (ETS);
  • housing (except for energy efficiency or renewable energy use);
  • the manufacturing, processing and marketing of tobacco;
  • help to companies in difficulty;
  • investment in airport infrastructure (unless related to environmental protection or accompanied by measures to mitigate negative environmental impact).

This article is derived from European Union public sector information. EU public information is reproduced pursuant to Commission Decision of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (2011/833/EU) (the EU Decision)

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