Cohesion Policy is the EU’s main investment policy. It targets all regions and cities in the European Union in order to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens’ quality of life.

The bulk of Cohesion Policy funding is concentrated on less developed European countries and regions in order to help them to catch up and to reduce the economic, social and territorial disparities that still exist in the EU.

Approximately 32.5% of the EU budget 2014-2020 was allocated to financial instruments which support Cohesion Policy. 

Measuring the impact and results of Cohesion Policy is critical to its ongoing success. It enables the EU to demonstrate the achievements of the Policy to European citizens. It also offers the opportunity to learn from good practices and to continuously improve projects and programmes.