Territorial cohesion

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The regions within the European Union exhibit significant disparities in economic performance, productivity, and labor markets. The EU's concept of ‘territorial cohesion’ aims to reduce these differences and promote balanced spatial development across the Union. This term encompasses various components, including addressing disparities, enhancing territorial integration, and fostering cooperation among regions. Achieving territorial cohesion requires acknowledging the continent's diversity and the unique advantages and challenges each area presents. Key issues include the concentration of population and economic activity in the so-called Pentagon, the implications of EU enlargement, and the stark imbalances between major population centers and other regions. Consequently, it was appropriate to incorporate territorial cohesion into the draft of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (Article I-3), which identifies economic, social, and territorial cohesion as fundamental objectives of the Union.