Legislation

Programming period 2021-2027

The Cohesion policy legislative package 2021-2027 comprises the following Regulations:

• the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) for shared management funds;
• the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund (CF) Regulation;
• the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Regulation.

The approval of the CPR also establishes key elements for the functioning of the new Just Transition Fund (JTF) Regulation, which completes the set of Cohesion policy funds available for 2021-2027.

The new Common Provisions Regulation lays down the common provisions applicable to:

• the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF);
• the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+);
• the Cohesion Fund (CF);
• the Just Transition Fund (JTF);
• the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).

The financial rules for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI) are also outlined in the Regulation.

The European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund Regulation sets specific provisions for the European Regional Development Fund (EUR 226 billion) and the Cohesion Fund (EUR 48 billion). The ERDF will contribute to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions, while delivering on the Union's political priorities through a thematic concentration of resources. The CF will support projects in the field of environment and trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure.

The European Social Fund Plus is the EU's main fund for investing in people. It will be the key financial instrument to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights, to support jobs and create a fair and socially inclusive society. It will also provide much needed resources to Member States for the recovery of our societies and economies after the coronavirus crisis. With a budget of EUR 99.3 billion (in current prices) for 2021-2027, Member States can use the money to create and protect job opportunities, promote social inclusion, fight poverty, including by combatting homelessness, and give workers the skills needed for the digital and green transition. It also includes an ambitious requirement for Member States to invest in young people and address child poverty.

The Just Transition Fund is a new Cohesion policy fund with an overall budget of EUR 19.2 billion (in current prices). The JTF is a key element of the European Green Deal and the first pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM). It aims to alleviate the social and economic costs resulting from the transition towards a climate-neutral economy, through a wide range of activities directed mainly at diversifying the economic activity and helping people adapt in a changing labour market. The Public Sector Loan Facility is the third pillar of the JTM, leveraging the EU budget to provide access to additional financing. The Facility specifically targets public entities, creating preferential lending conditions for projects that do not generate sufficient revenue to be financially viable.

Programming period 2014-2020

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