Social Cohesion Policy in the European Union

Introduction

The economic and social cohesion is a concept of European integration . It is based on the idea to create, maintain and develop effective common policies, economic developments must be consistent in the various regions that comprise the European Union. One need a strategy that will help make sure we come out stronger from the crisis and turn the EU into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of cohesion employment, productivity and social (Whitely, pp 45).

The economic and social cohesion has a branch within the European Commission . This direction is as part of the European Commissioner responsible for regional policy.

Discussion and Analysis

The purpose of the policy of economic and social cohesion is to reduce the differences in development and living standards between Member States and regions of the EU to promote harmonious development throughout the Union. It is primarily a solidarity policy designed to promote the balanced development of the Community and actual equality of opportunity between people, but without losing sight of the objective of promoting higher growth and competitiveness.

Although the Treaty of Rome (1957) referred to in the preamble to the reduction of differences between levels of development of regions, from the Single European Act (1986) when introduced in addition to the Single Market, the goal of economic and social cohesion. The Treaty of Maastricht (1992) finally introduced this policy to the EC Treaty (Szreter, p 45-89).

The EU-27 represents an unprecedented challenge for cohesion policy, taking into account the considerable delay in development of some regions of the new Member States. They have a GDP well below the EU average, and many regions previously benefited from regional policy will be affected by the reduction of the mean of the average GDP of the Union (the so-called 'statistical effect').

Policies Of Economic And Social Cohesion Within The European Union

The European territory not only presents significant socioeconomic disparities from one Member State to another but also between regions within a single state. These gaps have grown with the effects of the crisis in the European Union since 2008. In 1989, it has adopted a policy of cohesion to reduce these economic and social imbalances and encourage convergence between European regions, thus contributing to economic and social development of all territories. The territorial aspect is reinforced by Article 174 of the Treaty of Lisbon makes territorial cohesion one of the stated objectives of the European Union, alongside economic and social cohesion. This policy has been strengthened over time and has acquired financial instruments amounting to EUR 347.4 billion for 2007-2013. It thus aims to support efforts by Member States to move towards a competitive, inclusive and sustainable shared by all. However, rising unemployment figures and poverty since 2007 is a challenge to this policy. To this phenomenon are added challenges facing Europe today: the crisis of public debt, globalization, migration pressures, climate change and energy, sustainable development and the transition to a low- carbon. All these problems require appropriate responses from ...