Cohesion Policy, also known as Regional Policy, is the main investment and development policy of the European Union, which contributes to creating new jobs, improving the quality of life of citizens, and increasing the overall economic development of both the Member States and the EU as a whole. It is also an expression of solidarity, given that the support is directed to less developed regions and EU Member States - with the aim of strengthening the Union's economic, social and territorial cohesion.
The budget for this policy, as well as for all other EU policies, is programmed through seven-year cycles, with the current cycle covering the 2021-2027 period. In this ongoing period, a total of €378 billion has been allocated for Cohesion policy.
The funding for cohesion policy is provided through:
The European Regional Development Fund is aimed at reducing disparities in the levels of development between regions by providing support to regions in EU Member States. It focuses on productive investments, infrastructure investments, local development, the development of entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as European Territorial Cooperation.
The European Social Fund Plus is designed to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.
The Cohesion Fund provides support to Member States with a gross national income per capita below 90% EU-27 average. It supports investments in environmental protection and the development of trans-European transport infrastructure networks.
The Just Transition Fund is a new instrument of the Cohesion Policy 2021-2027, as the first pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism in the context of the European Green Deal aiming at achieving the EU climate-neutrality by 2050. Its primary objectives are to address the impacts of the transition through support for the diversification and modernisation of the local economy, and to mitigate adverse effects on employment.
These funds contribute to strengthening economic, social, and territorial cohesion by pursuing the following two objectives of cohesion policy:
- Investment in jobs and growth, and
- European territorial cooperation (Interreg).
The Republic of Serbia will be able to use funds from the mentioned instruments once it becomes a member of the EU. Accession negotiations for Serbia's membership in the European Union in the field of Cohesion Policy, in terms of meeting the requirements and principles and preparing for its effective implementation, are conducted through Chapter 22 – Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments.
As the institution managing the work of the negotiating group for Chapter 22, the Ministry of European Integration coordinated the preparation of the Action Plan, which serves as a benchmark for opening negotiations within Chapter 22. The Action Plan was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia on April 4, 2019, and officially submitted to the European Commission on April 8, 2019. The Action Plan is currently under review and consideration by the Council of the EU Working Party on Enlargement (COELA). This document outlines measures for meeting the key cohesion policy requirements necessary for Serbia's preparation for EU accession and the implementation of cohesion policy after the accession date. The Action Plan is divided into the following areas: legal framework, institutional framework, administrative capacities, programming, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management and control, including audit.
With a view to establish the legal and institutional framework for the implementation of Cohesion Policy, significant progress has been achieved through the adoption of a key legislative act. On 23 April 2026, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia adopted the Law on the Establishment and Functioning of the Cohesion Policy Management System, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia (“Official Gazette of RS”, No. 35/2026). The Law provides for the adoption of secondary legislation, i.e. decrees, for both cohesion policy objectives – “Investment for Jobs and Growth” and “European Territorial Cooperation”.
The Law is aligned with the relevant European Union acquis in the field of Cohesion Policy, thereby ensuring the gradual harmonisation of the national legal framework with the EU acquis.
The adoption of the Law on the Establishment and Functioning of the Cohesion Policy Management System has laid the groundwork for the establishment of the institutional framework and the strengthening of administrative capacities for the effective implementation of Cohesion Policy funds, as well as for the preparation of strategic and programming documents guiding the allocation of funds towards priority areas and investments. Further activities on the development and consolidation of the system will be implemented with the support of IPA projects, whose overall objective is to prepare the Serbian administration for the effective implementation of Cohesion Policy. The purpose of these projects is to establish and further enhance the capacities of all relevant stakeholders for the timely and efficient preparation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes and projects financed from European Union funds.
For more information, check the following links:
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/what/investment-policy_en
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/legislation-and-guidance/regulations_en
Publications:
https://www.mei.gov.rs/upload/documents/publikacije/Upoznajte_kohezionu_Politiku_EU.pdf
https://www.mei.gov.rs/upload/documents/publikacije/koheziona_politika_avg2023_-_r.pdf