Cohesion policy, also known as Regional Policy, is the main investment and development policy of the European Union, which contributes to creating new jobs, improving the quality of life of citizens, and increasing the overall economic development of both the Member States and the EU as a whole. It is also an expression of solidarity, given that the support is directed to less developed regions and EU Member States - with the aim of strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion.
The budget for this policy, as well as for all other EU policies, is programmed through seven-year cycles, with the current cycle covering the 2021-2027 period. In this ongoing period, a total of €378 billion has been allocated for Cohesion policy.
The funding for cohesion policy is provided through:
- The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is designed to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the European Union.
- The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is designed to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.
- The Cohesion Fund (CF) provides support to Member States with a gross national income (GNI) per capita below 90% EU-27 average to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU.
- The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a new instrument of the Cohesion Policy 2021-2027, as the first pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of the European Green Deal aiming at achieving the EU climate-neutrality by 2050.
These funds contribute to strengthening economic, social, and territorial cohesion by pursuing the following two objectives of cohesion policy:
1. Investment in jobs and growth, and
2. European territorial cooperation (Interreg).
The Republic of Serbia will be able to use funds from the mentioned instruments once it becomes a member of the EU. Accession negotiations for Serbia's membership in the European Union in the field of cohesion policy, in terms of meeting the requirements and principles and preparing for its effective implementation, are conducted through Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments.
As the institution managing the work of the negotiating group for Chapter 22, the Ministry of European Integration coordinated the preparation of the Action Plan, which serves as a benchmark for opening negotiations within Chapter 22. The Action Plan was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia on April 4, 2019, and officially submitted to the European Commission on April 8, 2019. The Action Plan is currently under review and consideration by the Council of the EU Working Party on Enlargement (COELA). This document outlines measures for meeting the key cohesion policy requirements necessary for Serbia's preparation for EU accession and the implementation of cohesion policy after the accession date. The Action Plan is divided into the following areas: legal framework, institutional framework, administrative capacities, programming, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management and control, including audit.
Key Decisions and/or Activities within Chapter 22 for the Upcoming Period:
1. Preparation of the negotiating position that will reflect the new legal framework for EU cohesion policy;
2. Adoption of the Draft Law on the Establishment and Functioning of the System for Management of Cohesion Policy and preparation of two decrees for each of the cohesion policy goals, which will create the legal basis for establishing the management system for EU Cohesion Policy Funds;
3. Adoption of the Decision on the Appointment of Responsible Persons and Bodies in the Management and Control System of Programmes financed from Cohesion Policy Funds, as well as the preparation of inter-institutional agreements and other regulations that will manage the mutual relations, rights, and obligations of persons and bodies within the management and control system of programmes financed from Cohesion Policy Funds;
4. Continued capacity building of institutions and maintaining adequate administrative capacities of partners and future beneficiaries.
To implement the above-mentioned activities and support the adoption of the necessary decisions, the MEI has access to support from IPA projects. The general objective of these projects is to prepare the Serbian administration for the effective implementation of cohesion policy. The purpose is to establish and enhance the capacities of all relevant stakeholders for the timely and efficient preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes and projects financed from EU Cohesion Policy Funds.
For more information, check the following links:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/what/investment-policy/
Publications:
https://www.mei.gov.rs/upload/documents/publikacije/Upoznajte_kohezionu_Politiku_EU.pdf
https://www.mei.gov.rs/upload/documents/publikacije/koheziona_politika_avg2023_-_r.pdf
https://www.mei.gov.rs/upload/documents/publikacije/giz_par_-_brosura_koheziona_politika_nov2024_web_-_pages_s.pdf