Cohesion policy post 2020 to emphasise the key role of research and innovation and investments in all regions

On May 29, the European Commission presented the proposal for the Cohesion policy beyond 2020. Amongst the key features of the next EU’s main investment policy, the Commission proposed a focus on key investment priorities, such as research and innovation, and a Cohesion policy for all regions. With a EU budget of €373 billion for the programming period 2021-2027, the modernised Cohesion policy will seek to tackle the persistent gaps between and within Member States. Vice-President responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, emphasised the role of innovation within Cohesion policy and said: "Over the next decade, Cohesion Policy will help all regions modernise their industry and invest in innovation and the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy […]”. Vice-President Katainen did not explicitly mention Smart Specialisation, but we hope that this statement signifies a strengthened role of Smart Specialisation in the post 2020 period. ERRIN position paper on EU Funds in the Area of Cohesion is available here. The European Commission’s press release on the EU budget for Cohesion Policy Post-2020 is available here.