Balancing regional development within countries

The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund are part of the European Community's structural policy, which is intended to reduce the gap in terms of development between different regions and between Member States of the European Union and thereby promote economic and social cohesion. Between 1994 and 1999, the Community budget allocated structural measures EUR 208 billion i.e. roughly 35% of the EU's total budget. 90% of this amount was for the regions and 10% for the four 'cohesion countries'. The financial allocation has risen to EUR 213 billion (including EUR 195 billion for the Structural Funds and EUR 18 billion for the Cohesion Fund) for the period 2000-2006.