Expert analysis on geographical specificities: Mountains, Islands and Sparsely Populated Areas

Summary:

Cohesion Policy pays particular attention to regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as mountains, islands and sparsely populated areas.

The expert analysis allows to gain an in-depth knowledge on how the Member States are using the possibilities for supporting and strengthening the development of islands, mountains and sparsely populated areas through EU Cohesion Policy in the 2014-2020 programming period.

The analysis for 2014-2020 identified 15 Member States that highlighted in their Partnership Agreements specific territorial challenges due to the insular, mountainous and or sparsely populated character of their territories or parts of them. There is a variety of ways and type of tools that member states used in response to these challenges: Dedicated regional operational programmes, dedicated priority axis in sectoral operational programmes, use of Integrated Territorial Investments and  / or Community Led Local Development, financial instruments, selection criteria.

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