Territorial Cohesion is, alongside with Economic and Social cohesion, an essential component of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy. Territorial Cohesion was formally integrated into the EU Treaties with the Lisbon Treaty in 2007. Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) emphasizes the importance of economic, social, and territorial cohesion, highlighting the need to address disparities between different regions and the challenges posed by less-favoured areas.
The Territorial Agenda is a strategic policy framework that guides the European Union’s approach to Territorial Cohesion. It is connected to Territorial Cohesion in that it sets out the priorities, objectives, and principles that member states, regions, and cities should follow to promote balanced and harmonious territorial development across the EU.
The aim of this document is to tell the story about Territorial Cohesion as a part of EU Cohesion Policy – the history, the content, actors, processes, tools, challenges and strategies, etc. The document can be used to facilitate the communication around Territorial Cohesion and the Territorial Agenda, both to newcomers in the work and to actors that are interested or ought to be interested.
Read the document here.