Economic, social and territorial cohesion is a core objective of the European Union (as established in the Article 3(3) TEU and the Art. 174 TFEU), and for its development is supported by the so-called "Cohesion Policy" (CP).
Cohesion Policy aims to promote harmonious development and reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between the regions of the Union, and the backwardness of the least favoured regions with a particular focus on rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions suffering from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, such as outermost regions, regions with very low population density, islands, cross-border and mountain regions.
Cohesion Policy is the main public investment policy of the European Union, and it is implemented through the European Structural and Investment Funds: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). Furthermore, in rural areas the Cohesion Policy funds reinforce the support given by other EU instruments such as the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
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