Aleksandra Nowakowska
Articles
Geographia Polonica (2025) vol. 98, iss. 4, pp. 394-404
Abstract
The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of promoting territorial cohesion as an EU Treaty objective after 2027. It identifies emerging challenges that must be addressed and outlines the fundamental components of a new EU cohesion framework. Furthermore, it examines the process by which these elements should be integrated into the EU Multiannual Financial Framework beyond 2027. The paper presents some new and forward-looking proposals, including the establishment of a new coordination mechanism translating overarching EU goals into local and regional implementation efforts. It provides a snapshot in the EU debate on the future of territorial cohesion initiated and promoted by the Polish Presidency of the EU Council and supported by Polish and foreign scientists in 2023-2024. This article is exploratory and reflective in nature and is intended to serve as inspiration for further discussion. It is based on a review of research on the cohesion policy, as well as on the authors' expert knowledge.
Keywords: Territorial Cohesion, EU Cohesion Policy, EU Multiannual Financial Framework beyond 2027, place-based approach, inequalities, European semester, multi-level governance, structural funds
[p.zuber2@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies Warsaw University Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland; Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy
[john.bachtler@strath.ac.uk], European Policies Research Centre, University of Strathclyde Graham Hills Building 40 George Street, G1 1QE Glasgow: UK
[t.komorn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Science Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw Poland; Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning Polish Academy of Sciences Palace of Culture and Science, 1, 00-901 Plac Defilad, Warsaw: Poland
[rmatczak@swps.edu.pl], Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning Polish Academy of Sciences Palace of Culture and Science, 1, 00-901 Plac Defilad, Warsaw: Poland; Institute of Social Science SWPS University Polna 16/20, 81-745 Sopot: Poland; InnoBaltica Równa 19/21, 80-067 Gdańsk: Poland
[a.mikolajczyk@pomorskie.eu], Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Region Department for Regional and Spatial Development Okopowa 21/27, 80-810 Gdańsk: Poland
[aleksandra.nowakowska@uni.lodz.pl], Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning Polish Academy of Sciences Palace of Culture and Science, 1, 00-901 Plac Defilad, Warsaw: Poland; Faculty of Economics and Sociology University of Lodz POW 3/5, 90-255 Łódź: Poland
[pawel.samecki@gmail.com], National Bank of Poland Świętokrzyska 11/2100-919 Warsaw: Poland
[j.szlachta90@gmail.com], SGH Warsaw School of Economics Collegium of Socio-Economics al. Niepodległości 162, 02-554 Warsaw: Poland; Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning Polish Academy of Sciences Palace of Culture and Science, 1, 00-901 Plac Defilad, Warsaw: Poland
[jacek.zaucha@ug.edu.pl], Faculty of Economics University of Gdańsk Armii Krajowej 119/121, 81-824 Sopot: Poland