Source: European Parliament
Cohesion Policy is the EU’s main policy for supporting all regions with their socioeconomic development.
During the 2021-2027 programming period, Cohesion Policy has supported the sector and the regions in which this sector is present: alternative fuels infrastructure (mostly electric charging points), the purchase of electrical vehicles for public services, measures to support research and innovation in the sector, and the support of strategic technologies through Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) for automotive enterprises and their value chains.
Via the Smart Specialisation Strategies, various regions have made the automotive industry one of their investment priorities for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment and are focusing resources on its transformation.
Recently, the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2025/1914 has allowed regions more possibilities to support large enterprises, including in the automotive sector. Also, energy interconnectors have been introduced as a strategic priority for Cohesion Policy.
Furthermore, to achieve a just transition and maintain competitiveness, it is important to invest in workers to help them navigate the challenges faced by the sector in synergy with the ERDF creating quality jobs in enterprises.
The Commission proposed targeted amendments to the European Globalisation Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) regulations[1].
The scope of EGF would be extended to support companies in restructuring processes to protect employees against the risk of unemployment, while the amendments to the ESF+ regulation would allow Member States to reprogramme more money for the automotive sector.
- [1] Which are currently under examination by co-legislators.