Fifth Progress Report on Economic
and Social Cohesion
Danuta Hübner
CONTENT OF THIS REPORT
• Main conclusions of the public consultation
• Update of data on cohesion
• Analysis of how EU growth and regional
convergence are driven by the sectors of the
future
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
2
THE MAIN MESSAGE OF THE
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
• Strong support for an ambitious European
cohesion policy
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
3
PARTICIPANTS IN THE
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
• More than one hundred contributions were
received:
– 17 Member States (more than 80% of the EU
population)
– 37 from regional and local authorities; many of
them are joint statements
– All the others: economic and social partners,
territorial organisations, civil society, academia
and citizens.
Website:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/4thcohesionforum
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
4
EU COHESION POLICY
AFTER 2013
• Re-nationalisation of this policy is rejected
• Support for a European cohesion policy for
all the EU regions
• Priority to lagging behind regions
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
5
CONVERGENCE AND
COMPETITIVENESS
• No convergence without competitiveness
• Priority to investments in innovation, skills
and education, sustainable development and
European wide infrastructures
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
6
NEW CHALLENGES
• Integrated approaches – EU cohesion policy
cannot be the only policy instrument
• Stronger coordination with other
Community policies
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
7
COOPERATION BETWEEN
EUROPEAN REGIONS
• Clear demand for its strengthening in the
future
• One of the best examples of the added value
of European cohesion policy
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
8
GOVERNANCE OF THE
COHESION POLICY
• Demand to continue simplifying European
cohesion policy
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
9
UPDATE ON COHESION:
ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE
GDP per head (PPS), 2000-2005
Growth of GDP/head, 2000-2005
140
3.0
2.5
Annual average change, in %
GDP per head (PPS) index, EU27=100
120
100
80
60
40
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
20
0.0
0
Convergence
Transition
RCE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
Convergence
Transition
RCE
10
UPDATE ON COHESION:
SOCIAL CONVERGENCE
Unemployment rate, 2000-2006
16
Share of active population 15-74, in %
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Convergence
Transition
RCE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
11
WHAT DRIVES CONVERGENCE:
HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT SHIFTS IN CONVERGENCE AND
TRANSITION REGIONS
Employment Changes, 2000-2005
5
4
3
Average Annual Change, in %
2
1
0
-1
`
-2
-3
-4
-5
Agriculture
Construction
Financial & business services
Total
-6
-7
Conv
Transition
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
Industry
Trade, transport & communication
Other services
RCE
12
WHAT DRIVES CONVERGENCE:
HIGH AND MEDIUM-HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING
High and medium-high tech
manufacturing employment, 2000-2006
45
Share of total employment in industry, in %
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Convergence
Transition
RCE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION Regional Policy
13