Cohesion policy and EU enlargement: The role of civil society in the upcoming rounds

The EU's cohesion policy objectives remain valid in a wider Union, both in current and future Member States. Enlargement policy will be one of the top priorities for the coming years. Some of the most important aspects of the enlargement process will be cohesion policy and structural funds. The need to apply a structural policy after enlargement is justified by both the external need to reduce the gap between the applicant countries and by the EU average.