This European cohesion funds compatible 30 years. Thirty years in which Europe has channeled 179,000 million euros for development the poorest regions. The European Commission highlighted the balancing and modernizing nature of the Cohesion Fund on Monday and said it “proved to be a driver of convergence, competitiveness and sustainable development and the internal market”. Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Harmonization and Reforms. “This makes a significant contribution to the equal footing in our Union and is one of the EU’s most exemplary support tools: iconic bridges, efficient and modern railways and metros, airports, as well as supported water and waste treatment, thanks to this Fund we have improved the lives of millions of Europeans and all countries “We modernized it,” he said.
As an example in the Iberian Peninsula, Brussels emphasized that this fund supported the financing of the construction of the 12.3-kilometer-long Vasco da Gama bridge in 1998. Lisbon, the longest bridge in the EU; Besides the Alqueva dam on the Guadiana river in southern Portugal, close to the Spanish border, one of Europe’s largest strategic water reserves. This fund also played an important role in the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), supporting the construction and improvement of 7,800 kilometers of TEN-T roads, 3,650 kilometers of TEN-T railways and several aqueducts. tunnels. .
High speed trains in Spain
For example, in Spain, the Cohesion Fund, modern network High-speed trains are the country highlighted in Brussels, where the 804-kilometer high-speed train line on the Madrid-Barcelona-France border is one of the main communication axes between Spain and the rest of Europe.
The Cohesion Fund currently benefits 15 member states Gross National Income (GNP) per capita below 90% of the EU average during the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework Agreement: Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal , Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The Financial Instrument for Cohesion, originally called the Cohesion Fund, was created on 1 April 1993 and entered into force in 1994, and its original beneficiaries are Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain (1994-1999); followed by Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia from 2004; Bulgaria and Romania (since 2007); and Croatia (since 2013).
The Cohesion Fund budget has increased significantly since the 2004 enlargement: €18 billion in 1994-1999, €30.6 billion in 2000-2006, €68.5 billion in 2007-2013 and 61 in 2014-2020. 4 billion Euros. More than 37% of the Fund’s €48.03 billion allocation for the 2021-2027 programming period will support the climate targets.