"More growth and jobs for all regions and cities of the European Union." This is the message which is at the heart of the programming period 2007-2013 for Cohesion Policy and its instruments. The European Territorial Cooperation will encompass cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation.

In comparison to the programming period 2000-2006 there are three major policy changes for Cohesion and Regional Policy. They are:

• A clearer focus on the renewed growth and jobs agenda
• A new architecture ensures a modernised and more strategic approach
• Simpler and more efficient operations as, for example, the number of instruments has been cut from six to three; the new proportionality principle ensures less bureaucracy, the application of national eligibility rules rather than Community ones and that the Member States are ased for more responsibility and transparency of the funds' management.

For more information please see the fact sheets below:

Links

• Innovative Strategies and Actions: Results from 15 years of Regional Experimentation
• A reformed Cohesion Policy for a changing Europe: Regions, Cities and Border areas for Growth and Jobs
• Regions and Cities for Growth and Jobs: An overview of Regulations 2007-2013 on Cohesion and Regional Policy