Press Release: European Commission adopts ‘Partnership Agreement’ with the United Kingdom on using EU Structural and Investment Funds for growth and jobs in 2014-2020

The European Commission adopted a ' Partnership Agreement ' with the United Kingdom on the 29 October 2014 setting down the strategy for the optimal use of European Structural and Investment Funds throughout the country.

The agreement paved the way for investing €11.8bn in total Cohesion Policy funding over 2014-2020 (current prices, including European Territorial Cooperation funding and the allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative). The United Kingdom also received €5.18bn for rural development and €243m for fisheries and the maritime sector.

The EU investments will help tackle unemployment and boost competitiveness and economic growth through support to innovation, training and education in cities, towns and rural areas. They will also promote entrepreneurship, fight social exclusion and help to develop an environmentally friendly and a resource-efficient economy.

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/14/331: Q&A on the "Partnership Agreements" between the European Commission and the EU Member States on European Structural and Investment Fund investments for 2014-2020 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-331_en.pdf

European Commission: DG Regional Policy: Cohesion Policy and the United Kingdom http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/cohesion-policy-achievement-and-future-investment/factsheet/united_kingdom_en.pdf

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