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Heading 1b: Economic, social, and territorial cohesion

A list of the programmes funded under heading 1b of the 2014-2020 long-term budget, with reference amounts and legal bases.

Cohesion fund

Total reference amount: €74,928.36 million (current prices)

Aims

The Cohesion fund aims at reducing economic and social shortfall, as well as stabilising the economy of Member States whose Gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant is less than 90 % of the EU average.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1300/2013 on the Cohesion Fund

More information

Regional policy website

Less developed regions

Total reference amount: €185,374.42 million (current prices)

Aims

“Less developed regions” are the European regions whose GDP is less than 75 % of the EU average. Funding was made available through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social fund.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 on the European Regional Development Fund

Regulation 1304/2013 on the European Social Fund

More information

Regional policy website

More developed regions

Total reference amount: €55,780.14 million (current prices)

Aims

“More developed regions” are the European regions whose GDP is above 90 % of the EU average. Funding was made available through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social fund.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 on the European Regional Development Fund

Regulation 1304/2013 on the European Social Fund

More information

Regional policy website

Outermost and sparsely populated regions

Total reference amount: €1,562.99 million (current prices)

Aims

Areas that are naturally disadvantaged from a geographical viewpoint (remote, mountainous or sparsely populated areas), as well as outermost areas benefited from specific assistance from the European Regional Development Fund to address possible disadvantages.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 on the European Regional Development Fund

More information

Regional policy website

Territorial cooperation

Total reference amount: €10,228.81 million (current prices)

Aims

The European territorial cooperation scheme helped regions across Europe work together to address shared problems. Funding was made available through the European Regional Development Fund.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 on support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal

Regulation (EU) No 1302/2013 on European groupings of territorial cooperation (EGTCs)

More information

Regional policy website

Transition regions

Total reference amount: €35,701.31 million (current prices)

Aims

Transition regions are those regions whose GDP is between 75% and 90% of the EU average. They received support from the European Regional Development Fund and from the European Social fund.

Legal basis

EU regulation 1303/2013 on how to monitor and evaluate elements for the European Structural and Investment Funds

Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 on the European Regional Development Fund

Regulation 1304/2013 on the European Social Fund

More information

Regional policy website

Youth employment initiative

Total reference amount: €3,211.22 million (current prices)

Aims

The Youth employment initiative supported young people not in education, employment or training in the Union’s regions with a youth unemployment rate in 2012 at above 25 %. The initiative focused on integrating these young people into the labour market. Of the funding, €3 billion come from a dedicated Youth Employment budget line complemented by €3 billion more from the European Social Fund.

Legal basis

Regulation 1304/2013 on the European Social Fund

More information

Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion website