The Future of Cohesion: Bridging the Directly Managed EU Funding and Innovation Gap for Economic Success in Smaller and Poorer Member States

Funding provided in the frames of the directly managed programs of the European Union account for one third of the entire EU budget, almost 400 billion euros, in the current seven-year cycle (2021-2027).These programs of the European Union provide financial support primarily based on the rationale that given projects enable the implementation and methodological dissemination of policy objectives at the pan-European level.However, the evaluation of the projects is far from being so objective, and there are huge differences in the funding provided by the programs between member countries and regions.The goal of the European Union is innovation-based competitiveness, which presupposes much more balanced program funding.On this basis, competitiveness cannot be separated from the principles of cohesion, so it would be necessary to apply them to a certain extent in relation to these programs as well.Bridging the directly managed EU resources and innovation gap is essential for promoting economic equity and success across the European Union.By focusing on targeted interventions and regional specificities, the EU can pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all member states.This policy paper serves as a call to action for EU policymakers to prioritise and address these critical issues.1 European Parliament s. a.a.