Press Release: EU Regional Policy – key for achieving Union’s 2020 sustainable growth goals

The Commission has launched a call to action to those in Member States managing Cohesion funds, urging wider use of the money to finance sustainable growth projects, and offering advice on how to improve the quality of investments. These messages, designed to promote implementation of the Resource Efficiency flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 strategy, adopted on 26 January 2011, underline the key role that regional policy can have in ensuring EU targets in this area are met.

Priorities for investment fall in three areas: energy efficiency, renewables and decarbonising transport;, protection of the natural environment (ecosystem services), biodiversity, adaptation to climate change including screening for climate resilience, and natural disaster prevention; eco-innovation through deployment of Information and Communication Technologies and "green clusters". Proposals to help improve the quality of investment include applying principles such as energy efficiency throughout the project cycle, and greater use of green public procurement.