"The EU cohesion policy showed it can adapt to change, by funding highly necessary investments in infrastructure, human resources and the revamping and diversification of the regional economies". Danuta Hübner, Regional Policies Commissioner, presents the fourth Report on economic and social cohesion, aimed at assessing the results that have been achieved so far, preparing the guiding principles for the period until 2013. "The goal of such actions specifies Hübner consists in creating opportunities for all the EU citizens, reducing inequalities between regions, focussing the resources on growth-boosting investments". For the first time, the document provides a detailed analysis of the economic, social and territorial conditions of the 27-member, 268-region EU. Finally it offers ten questions to "open the debate on the future of this area of the EU policy" facing several challenges: "decrease in population, escalation of economic pressure from worldwide competitors, energy price rise, climate change and social concentration".
