Directorate General for Regional Policy

Mission of the Directorate General for Regional Policy

The mission of the Directorate General for Regional Policy is to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion by reducing disparities between the levels of development of regions and countries of the European Union. In this way the policy contributes positively to the overall economic performance of the EU.

Reducing disparities requires a cohesion policy promoting constant improvements in competitiveness and employment. By co-financing infrastructure projects, developing the information society, accelerating the transfer of know-how, supporting investments in people and stimulating cross-border cooperation, the Directorate General for Regional Policy helps regions that are less prosperous or are suffering from structural problems to improve competitiveness and to achieve a faster rate of economic development in a sustainable way. The policy is thus an important expression of the solidarity of the European Union.

The Directorate General manages three major Funds:

  • the European Regional Development Fund, which operates in all Member States, cofinances investments - this fund is heavily concentrated in the regions with lowest GDP/head;
  • the Cohesion Fund, which co-finances transport and environment projects in Member States whose GNP is less than 90% of the Community average;
  • the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA), which helps candidate countries to develop transport networks and improve environmental infrastructure.

Apart from these three funds, the DG is also responsible for:

  • the implementation of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), which is dedicated to speedy intervention in the case of major disasters, to provide aid as quickly as possible;
  • the co-ordination group on ultra-peripheral regions, whose remit is to encourage Community actions to implement measures compensating for the disadvantaged situation of the outermost regions, according to Article 299(2) of the Treaty;
  • the management of the EC contributions to the International Fund for Ireland which, together with the PEACE programme included in the Structural Funds, aims at peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

DG Regional Policy aims to deliver (1) efficient and effective structural policies that (2) bring benefits to, and are understood by, Europe’s citizens on the ground, (3) contribute directly to creating the conditions for the successful enlargement of the European Union and (4) are consistent with the principle of sound financial management.
Commissioner Paweł Samecki has the political responsibility for regional policy.

2009 organisation chart pdf : de en fr

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