Cohesion policy: at the heart of Europe 2020

(10 march 2010) On 3 March, the European Commission launched the Europe 2020 Strategy to prepare the EU's economy for the next decade.  Economic, social and territorial cohesion will remain at the heart of the Europe 2020 strategy to ensure that all energies and capacities are mobilised and focused on the pursuit of the strategy's priorities. The Europe 2020 Strategy highlights the role of European cohesion policy as a key delivery mechanism to achieve the priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in Member States and regions. 

The Strategy calls more effort to develop innovative financing solutions to support Europe 2020's objectives by:

• Stronger prioritisation and better alignment of the EU budget (including European cohesion policy) with the goals of the Europe 2020;
• Designing new financing instruments, in particular in cooperation with the EIB/EIF and the private sector; and
• Making an efficient European venture capital market a reality, thereby greatly facilitating direct business access to capital markets and exploring incentives for private sector funds that make financing available for start-up companies, and for innovative SMEs.

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