Key achievements of Regional Policy 2007-2013
The present country results are based on the Synthesis report of the ex post evaluation of Cohesion policy programmes financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund over the 2007-2013 programming period.
They present and analyse the findings at a Member State level and they attempt to answer three main sets of questions:
- How the funding provided was used in the Member State or what the money was spent on?
- What the results were and how far they contributed to the goals of Cohesion policy?
- What the lessons to be drawn from the experience over the period are and what the implications are for Cohesion policy in the future or how the design and operation of the policy can be improved to make it more effective?
For the programming period 2007-2013, key achievements of Regional Policy are:
Creating jobs and growth
Income has increased in the poorest EU regions with GDP per capita growing in these areas from 60.5 % of the EU average in 2007 to 62.7 % in 2010.
An estimated 1.3 million new jobs were created from 2007 to 2015
View the dataInvesting in people
2.4 million participants in ESF actions supporting access to employment found a job within 6 months (2007-2010).
Around 15 million ESF Participants every year
View the dataSupporting enterprises
An estimated 356 800 projects implemented by SMEs receiving direct investment aid
View the data141 052 start-ups were supported
View the dataStrengthening research and innovation
125 668 research projects supported
View the data45 371 co-operation projects supported
View the data70 900 new long-term research jobs were created
View the data20.6 million more EU citizens were covered by broadband connectivity
View the dataImproving the environment
Water supply systems have been modernised, benefiting 15 million citizens
View the dataMore than 19.7 million citizens served by waste water projects
View the data1 650 Km2 of Area rehabilitated
View the dataModernising transport and energy production
Additional capacity of renewable energy production: 5 309 MW
View the dataRoads: 6 700 Km built
View the dataRoads: 41 189 Km reconstructed
View the dataRailways: 475 Km built
View the dataRailways: 7 500 Km reconstructed
View the dataThis page provides a snapshot of key achievements so far in the 2007-13 period (unless otherwise stated, data run from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2014), and shows how EU Cohesion Policy is helping to weather the crisis and produce growth.