With €350 billion for the period 2007-2013, the EU’s Cohesion Policy is a formidable investment tool for promoting regional development across the 27 Member States. While the EU is misguided in many of the projects it supports, through investments promoting fossil fuels, carbon-intensive projects or the destruction of nature, sometimes it does get it right.
This map displays some of the best-practice Cohesion Policy investments in infrastructure projects to be realised recently. While they vary in purpose, all have been tailored towards social and environmental ends in order to ensure direct benefits for the beneficiary region or community.
Sustainable, effective and environmentally focused initiatives are out there – the task now is for future funds to multiply them all across the EU.
