Authors: Keti Medarova-Bergstrom, Axel Volkery

How should spending under the main EU funds be aligned with the Union’s principal objectives in the next budget period after 2013? How do the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, environmental as well as economic, get translated into investments on the ground? These are the kind of questions that were to be addressed in a new kind of planning document for five key funds – a Common Strategic Framework (CSF). 

This IEEP Policy brief analyses the Commission’s staff working document on the Common Strategic Framework for the 2014-2020 EU cohesion, rural development and fisheries funds which was published on 14 March 2012. It discusses both the opportunities and weaknesses to advance the mainstreaming of climate change and the environment in the funds.