EU Auditors shed light on allocation of post-2020 European cohesion policy budget

​A new rapid case review by the European Court of Auditors published today looks at the process for determining the amount of cohesion funding available to EU countries under the next seven-year spending plan.

This year is of crucial importance for the next seven-year budget of the European Union. It is vital that all stakeholders take informed decisions, so that cohesion policy delivers even more with a reduced budget,” said Iliana Ivanova, the Member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the review. “In this context, our review explains in an accessible way the complicated process for allocating cohesion policy funding to Member States. We hope that it will help to stimulate a constructive discussion of these issues.”

The rapid case review provides an overview of how the EU allocates funds for its cohesion policy - designed to close the gap between rich and poor European regions - to individual Member States and regions. It compares the amounts proposed for the 2021-2027 period with the amounts for the previous period, 2014-2020. It also contains examples of how the calculations involved in the process work.