Fostering Partnership in EU Cohesion Policy for the Period 2014-2020
Fostering Partnership in EU Cohesion Policy for the Period 2014-2020

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of the Draft General Regulation' proposed by the European Commission, and focuses on partnership in the processes of the EU's second largest budgetary area during the 2014-2020 programming period which is crucial in respect of sustainability. It looks at what partnership means in the European context of multi-level governance, and emphasises the importance of effective and efficient partnership as a horizontal principle of European Structural and Cohesion Funds. The principle of partnership has, for a long time, been one of the key principles of EU Cohesion Policy, prescribing multi-tier (supranational, national and sub-national) and multi-actor (public authorities, private and civil organisations) participation of different stakeholders in Cohesion Policymaking, throughout the whole programme cycle. Decision-making is thus no longer dominated by an administrative hierarchy, but by complex relations between these actors. EU funding is a powerful mechanism designed to help the regions in their economic and social restructuring and in promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity. EU Funds are one of the most important public financial sources to support public investments in the future financial period. Given their share of the EU budget (more than one-third). Cohesion Policy instruments are key in boosting Europe's economic competitiveness, and creating more and better jobs. In the design of the financial and operational framework of Cohesion Policy for the period 2014 to 2020, the partnership principle has again gained in importance and also now includes the so-called Partnership Contracts (or Partnership Agreements) between the European Commission and the EU Member States. The paper identifies the benefits and added value of partnership and analyses the role and legal nature of EU Cohesion Policy proposed by the Commission. Finally, it draws attention to the need for a Code of Conduct on Partnership at European level.

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