One of the main objectives of the European Union is to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion between regions. The reformed EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 comes at a pivotal moment. Recent years of austerity have seen rising unemployment and widening inequality, especially in peripheral regions, with youth, women and ethnic minorities worst affected. 

Making over €350 billion available to invest in Europe's regions, cities and the real economy, the reformed Cohesion Policy is the EU's principal investment tool to deliver the Europe 2020 goals: creating growth and jobs, tackling climate change and energy dependence, reducing poverty and social exclusion. Once member states’ national contributions and the leverage effect of financial instruments are taken into account, the impact is likely to be over €500 billion.

Launching a new partnership with the European Commission, with the participation of the OECD, Salzburg Global’s program is timed to help key stakeholders understand the rules and results-oriented focus of the reformed Cohesion Policy and ensure maximum impact for these investments. It will build on our longstanding European program which has featured over 15 sessions devoted to the EU’s development and expansion, grounded in our location at the crossroads of East and West.

The 2014 program will focus on ways in which regional development policy and complementary instruments can enhance competitiveness and effective governance at local, regional and transboundary levels. 

Participants will examine tools for environmentally sustainable innovation, human capital development, creation and financing of SMEs and the transition to a low carbon economy. They will compare practical projects and mechanisms that have delivered successful outcomes for competitiveness and inclusive growth, in and beyond Europe, in order to identify transferable tools and connect stakeholders who are leading cutting-edge work around the world.

The program will be held from May 17 to May 22, 2014 in Salzburg, Austria, with a one day, high-level pre-session meeting on May 17-18, focusing on European competitiveness, the shift to low carbon economies, and the role of sustainable cities.