EU:s sammanhållningspolitik stöder hållbar tillväxt genom att främja vatten- och avfallshantering, miljövänlig och innovativ ren teknik samt åtgärder för att skydda luften, den biologiska mångfalden och naturen.
Ytterligare verktyg
EU:s struktur-och investeringsfonder bidrar till att skydda och bevara naturtillgångar som vatten, natur och biologisk mångfald, ren luft och råvaror. Det innebär att man investerar i de nödvändiga infrastrukturerna för rening av avloppsvatten och avfallshantering (t.ex. återvinning), men även åtgärder för att bevaka miljösituationen eller utveckla grön infrastruktur. Detta gör miljön till en källa för ekonomisk tillväxt och nya arbetstillfällen.
Regarding water management, to which about EUR 15 billion is allocated, the largest share of the available budget will go to wastewater treatment infrastructure, in Member States that still need to fulfil basic needs in this area. It includes the construction or upgrading of wastewater treatment plans and sewerage networks, but also sewage sludge management. Further investments will contribute to the availability and security of drinking water services, and to water management and conservation including water reuse.
About EUR 5.5 billion is allocated to improved waste management, including basic waste treatment infrastructure in the regions with basic needs. These investments are in line with the waste hierarchy and based on national and regional waste management plans. In addition, Cohesion Policy invests in innovation and supports SMEs to help achieve the objectives of a circular economy.
Cohesion Policy also supports investments that boost the implementation of the EU's biodiversity and nature policies, in particular through the Habitats and Birds Directives and by strengthening the Natura 2000 network of protected areas. In addition, during the programming of the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy, a strong emphasis was placed on supporting green infrastructure (e.g. flood plains, green walls and roofs), especially in cities.
Furthermore, Cohesion Policy also contributes to eco-tourism by conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage. It is taking action to improve the urban environment, to revitalise cities, regenerate and decontaminate brownfield sites, reduce air pollution and promote noise-reduction measures. It supports the industrial transition towards a resource-efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors.
The ex-post evaluation of water and waste investments in the 2007-2013 period found that Cohesion Policy provided a major contribution to achieving EU water and waste targets in many EU13 and southern EU15 Member States. Thanks to the waste investments, the recycling rate increased in almost all EU13 Member States. Water projects improved drinking water supply for at least 4 million EU citizens and contributed to better wastewater treatment for over 7 million EU citizens.
