Cohesion Fund
Updated on 19.09.2023
The Cohesion Fund is one of the five funds included under the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds. It supports Member States with a gross national income per capita below 90 % of the EU-27 average, in order to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU. The Cohesion Fund is one of the five funds included under the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds. It supports Member States with a gross national income per capita below 90 % of the EU-27 average, in order to strengthen the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
The Cohesion Fund mainly contributes to investments in the field of environment and trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure made by public and regional authorities. Over a third (37 %) of the overall financial allocation of the fund is expected to contribute to climate objectives.
Relevant investment themes are the promotion of low-carbon strategies and investments in the waste sector. A relevant project example, published in October 2022, involves improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure in Sibiu County, Romania, to which the Cohesion Fund contributed over €65 million.
Applicant criteria
In general, any public or private organisation legally registered in the EU can request funding from the Cohesion Fund. The criteria depend on the call, region and managing authority.
For the period 2021-2027, the Cohesion Fund is relevant for cities and regions located in the following Member States:
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Estonia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Eligible projects/themes
The Cohesion Fund supports investments in the field of environment and trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure. The fund has the following investment priorities:
- supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all European sectors;
- promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management;
- preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency;
- promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures;
- enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration through actions to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the implementation of the Cohesion Fund.
More details about the Cohesion Fund can be found in Article 3, 'Specific objectives for the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund'.
Amount of funding
The Cohesion Fund has a budget of €48 billion for the period 2021-2027.
More region-specific information can be accessed by contacting a respective managing authority.
Application process
The Cohesion Fund is under shared management, which means ministries and public institutions are in charge of running a particular programme. The Member States' administrations (at national, regional and local level) choose which projects to finance and take responsibility for day-to-day management.
Cities and regions can find authorities responsible for funding in their territory here.
Deadlines
From 2021 to 2027.
<5 000
large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000
large metropolitan area >1.5 million, metropolitan area 1.5 million-500 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial
