Embedding the Urban Dimension in Cohesion Policy: IQ-Net Thematic Paper 50(2)

Urban issues have gained increasing prominence over Cohesion Policy (CP) programming periods in terms of policy relevance and visibility. Long-term processes of urbanisation and agglomeration in Europe pose complex but crucial challenges for CP, simultaneously supporting the economic engine of urban agglomerations while counteracting social and economic inequalities arising within urban areas and between urban centres and other territories. Global ‘megatrends’, including digitalisation and technological change, demographic transition and climate change have specific urban impacts that further underline the importance of CP interventions in urban development processes. Against this background, the paper builds on previous IQ-Net research, which looked at the uptake of the new territorial instruments introduced in 20142 and then assessed progress in their implementation in 2018,3 around the mid-term of the 2014-20 programme period.