Exploring Our Stories
In this section we share interactive data stories that combine a narrative text with insights and analysis of open data on the platform. The charts and tables in the stories are updated automatically as the data is updated. They also have filters to allow users to explore the performance of different countries and programmes and compare changes over time.
Explore our stories using the keyword or free text filters above
Green Growth
2021-27 Cohesion policy investment in TEN-T v1Use this data story to explore the 2021-2027 total cohesion policy investment of EUR 32.5 billion (of which EUR 25.3 billion is EU funding) in order to complete the TEN-T.2021-27 Cohesion policy: investment in urban mobilityUse this interactive data story to explore the planned investments to improve urban mobility infrastructure across Europe under 2021-2027 EU Cohesion policy programmes.21-27 Renewable energy supportCohesion Policy 2021-2027 invests around EUR 20 billion in renewable energies, of which EUR 15.1 billion comes from EU funding. Use this interactive data story to explore the plans by fund, country and type of action.21-27 Sustainable water managementUnder Cohesion Policy 20-27, EUR 16.9 billion of investment is planned to support to access to water and sustainable water management, of which more than EUR 13.2 billion is EU funding.
Use interactive charts on this page to explore the planned investments by fund, country and type of action.21-27 support to decarbonisation under cohesion policyRepresenting one third of the EU budget, Cohesion policy is a significant funding source for decarbonisation and a key pillar of the EU’s action to achieve sustainable growth.
Use this data story to explore the role of Cohesion policy in decarbonisation of energy, buildings and transport.21-27 Clean air trackingOn this page, you can use interactive charts to explore the planned clean air investments by fund, country and type of action based on Cohesion Open Data.21-27 Circular economyUnder Cohesion Policy 2021-2027, EUR 12.5 billion of investment is planned for circular economy and waste management, of which EUR 8.6 billion comes from EU funding. Use the interactive charts on this page to explore the planned investments by fund, country and type of action.21-27 Adaptation and risk management, disaster and civil protectionUnder Cohesion Policy 2021-2027, investments of more than EUR 18.8 billion are planned in climate adaptation and risk management, of which over EUR 13.9 billion is EU funding. Explore the themes supported and investment allocations.21-27 Cohesion policy: tracking climate action and decarbonisationDuring 2021-27, EU cohesion policy funding is delivering nearly EUR 120 billion of EU investment in climate action out of EUR 166 billion total investment planned. Explore the investment plans here.21-27 Cohesion policy: Biodiversity trackingUnder Cohesion policy programmes 2021-2027 investments of more than EUR 22 billion are planned in biodiversity action - EUR 16.8 billion from the EU budget. Use the interactive charts below to explore the planned investments.JTF: Leaving no region behind in the climate transitionThe JTF is a new funding instrument for 21-27 with an initial EU budget of EUR 19.2 billion available to support the territories most affected by the transition towards climate neutrality. Discover more.2021-2027 investments in cycling infrastructureUse this interactive data story to explore the planned total investments of EUR 4.5 billion under the 2021-2027 EU Cohesion policy to improve cycling infrastructure across Europe.In profile: Support to cycle and foot paths 2014-2020Cohesion policy, as part of its investments in clean urban transport, contributes nearly EUR 2 billion to new and renovated cycle paths and footpaths. Check out our open data on EU investments.In profile: Cohesion policy rail investments 2014-2020During 2021, the European Year of Rail, we profile the significant Cohesion Policy rail investments and achievements.In profile: EU investments in clean water 2014-2020High quality, safe and sufficient drinking water is essential for our daily life and economic activities. Cohesion policy contributes to EU water policy by allocating EUR 15 billion to water management in the 2014-2020 period.In profile: Cohesion policy reducing GHG 2014-2020Greenhouse gases (GHG) are naturally present in the Earth’s atmosphere, but human activity has increased their concentration exponentially since the industrial revolution. Explore the targets set and the progress reported annually under the ERDF common indicator "Estimated annual decrease of GHG" in this data story.Tracking cohesion policy air quality investments 2014-2020Investing in clean air fosters human wellbeing, protects natural resources, makes economic sense and contributes to regional development. Track cohesion policy investment here.In profile: EU support to clean urban transport 2014-2020In profile: EU support to waste management 2014-2020Waste management is an important component of regional development, not only for environmental and health considerations but also for socio-economic development, in particular in terms of the employment. Track here the financial support available and progress in delivering investment outputs.In profile: TEN-Transport cohesion policy investments 2014-2020Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key transport infrastructures - TEN-T - is part of one of the 11 Thematic Objectives for Cohesion Policy in 2014-2020.Smart Growth
Cohesion policy contribution to the Competitiveness Compass: A recipe for innovation, decarbonisation and strategic autonomyThis datastory shows how cohesion policy (2021-2027) enhances the main objectives of the Competitiveness Compass, blending innovation, decarbonisation and resilience into a strategy for a more competitive Europe to the taste of the different regions.2021-2027 RTDI supportUse this interactive data story to explore the RTDI investments allocations of EUR 61.9 in total costs, including EUR 42.6 billion from the EU budget, as of February 2026.2021-2027 STEP supportThe Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) supports the development and manufacturing of critical technologies. Use this data story to explore the EU cohesion policy support to STEP through data, graphs and examples.Financial instruments under cohesion policy 2021-2027In the 2021-2027 investment period, almost EUR 18.5 billion from the EU budget is allocated under Cohesion Policy to financial instruments. Explore the allocations in this interactive data story.Cohesion policy supporting the digital transition 2021-2027Cohesion policy has planned more than EUR 37 billion of investment in the digitisation transition through the 2021-2027 programmes. Explore these investments using this interactive datastory.RTD EVALUATION 2007-2013 - beneficiary and project dashboardExplore project-level information for 10,000 RTD projects in 17 Member States, representing the majority of the overall EU expenditure (76% / EUR 13 billion).An Economy that works for people: Cohesion Policy support for small and medium-sized enterprises - 2014-2020SMEs are key for making the economy work for people. The ESI Funds are the largest source of EU budget financing for SMEs.Cohesion Policy helps making Europe fit for the digital age 2014-2020Digital technologies are transforming the world at an unprecedented speed.
The Digital Single Market initiative aims to open up digital opportunities for people and business and enhance Europe's position as a world leader in the digital economy.In profile: Support to new enterprises 2014-2020New enterprises can access ERDF funding through national, regional and inter-regional programmes, in particular under dedicated budgets for improving SME competitivenessMeasuring progress in regional support for enterprises 2014-2020The ERDF is provides the largest source of EU budget funds to boost competitiveness in Europe's enterprises. 1.1 million enterprises – around 4% of all companies in Europe - are targetedInclusive Growth
2021-2027 cohesion policy support to social inclusionUse this data story to explore the allocations of EUR 79 billion in total cost - EUR 56 billion in EU share - allocated to social inclusion from the different EU funds (as of April 2026).2021-2027 cohesion policy support to housingThis interactive data story describes how cohesion policy programmes 2021-2027 support housing through graphs, and concrete project examples. Following the mid-term review, Cohesion policy support from the EU budget for housing rose to EUR 10.5 billion (EUR 13.8 billion including national co-financing).Cohesion policy support to education, training and skills 21-27This data story showcases how EU cohesion policy supports equal access to inclusive non-segregated education, training and skills development.Cohesion policy: supporting gender equalityOver 30% or EUR 110 billion of EU cohesion policy investments will support gender equality in the 2021-2027 period. Discover more.2014-2020 ESF and YEI participantsIn profile: cohesion policy improving health services in the regions 2014-2020The EU's Cohesion Policy invests in health as an asset for regional development and competitiveness, in order to reduce economic and social disparities. Investment may address a number of different areas.Cohesion Policy and Good Governance 2014-2020Low quality of government hinders economic development and reduces the impact of public investment, including by cohesion policy. Improving institutions would amplify the impact of cohesion policy and investment in general.Territorial Development
Sustainable Urban development 2021-2027EUR 24.4 billion of EU resources are planned for sustainable urban development in cities under the ERDF. Discover more.EU spending by NUTS regionsWe are frequently approached by researchers for data on cohesion policy financing broken down using the the NUTS territorial classification. Here we set out what is available at NUTS level.Cohesion Policy supporting rural areas and communities (2014-2020)A significant share of Cohesion Policy funds under 2014-2020 programmes are supporting rural areas and communities. Discover how these funds are channeled and what they are used for.Regional policy support to tourism actions 2014-2020Europe is the most visited region in the world. Tourism plays an important role in generating growth and jobs contributing about 10% of EU GDP. EU regional policy supports important sustainable tourism actions.How does Cohesion Policy support cities and local communities?Cohesion Policy helps cities and urban areas to overcome their various interlinked urban challenges. As the different dimensions of urban life – environmental, economic, social and cultural – are often interlinked, success in urban development can only be achieved through an integrated approach.The most competitive regions in Europe: capitals take it allThe RCI has always shown a remarkable gap between capital/metropolitan regions and the rest of the country.
The question is: are these gaps between the capital and the rest of the country increasing or can we find an indication of catching-up?Tracking cohesion investments by type of territoryCohesion policy programming takes place in different territorial contexts. In order to better understand the contexts programmes provide information on the "territorial dimension" in planning and in implementation.Monitoring / performance
2014-2020 Data on operations - WP2 (public)2021-2027 categorisation information systemThe cohesion categorisation system is used to collect detailed financial information on 8 dimensions of support by fund and category of region. It contributes to the assessment of its intervention rationale and allows the monitoring of investment progress, climate action and much more.Overview of cohesion policy coronavirus indicatorsThis page displays "common" COVID-19 indicator targets and reported progress used under the CRII/CRII+ and REACT-EU initiatives.ESI Funds: a guide to EU investment progressInvestment spending under the European Structural and Investment Funds for 2014-2020 doubled from 28% by the end of 2018 to 56% by the end of 2020. Find out more.Cohesion policy 2014-2020: investment progressExplore the data at national and programme level using interactive charts.Cohesion policy 2007-2013: thematic reprogrammingTracking progress with detailed cohesion investment themesCohesion policy is the EU's policy to support the reduction of social economic and territorial disparities - the "catching up funds". Interactive sankey visualisation allow stakeholders to explore and compare the detailed investment themes across the funds, countries, thematic objectives and detail thematic "intervention fields".Evaluation of cohesion policy in the Member StatesIn profile: Number of projects funded by themeESIF investment progress: reading the flying flagsTrack the investment progress by country under the ESI Funds over time using this animated chart.A guide to the ESIF performance frameworkFunds and specific initiatives
21-27 Mid term review reprogrammingExplore this data story to see how cohesion policy programmes have reallocated EUR 34.6 b in EU funding towards EU strategic priorities.21-27 Outermost Regions supportThis interactive data story allow you to explore how EU support is being allocated and used in Outermost Regions under the ERDF and the ESF+.2021-2027 - RESTOREUse this interactive data story to explore how the Member States have used the RESTORE mechanism to allocate EUR 2.1 billion total cost (EUR 1.8 Billion EU share) to respond to restoration needs after natural disasters.2021-2027 Technical Assistance in profileExplore the technical assistance allocations used to support capacity and management of investments under national, regional and territorial cooperation programmes using this data story.Interreg target setting 21-27 v1This data story allows you to explore the Interreg common output and result indicators with a focus on target setting. Explore the differences in target setting by programme, policy objective and specific objective.21-27: support to the UN SDGsUse this interactive data story to explore the EU investment allocations to UN Sustainable Development Goals of 2021-2027 cohesion policy funds at EU level, by country and by National and regional programmes.EMFAF support to climate and biodiversityUse this interactive data story to explore the planned EMFAF investments by fund, country and type of action based on cohesion open data.EU budget execution - overviewThis data story provides an overview of the EU budget's absorption under "shared management" covering the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 programming periods.Comparing thematic intensity of EU investment 2021-2027This data story presents the relative thematic investment shares of the different countries, funds and categories of region in adopted programmes for 2021-2027 through a series of interactive charts.Outcome of 2021-2027 programming - cohesion policyThis data story complements the 2023 Staff Working Document (SWD) on the outcome of programming.
It presents key messages from the SWD supported by open data, interactive charts and dedicated open data tracking tools linked to the adopted 2021-2027 programmes.Cohesion investment priorities by country 2021-2027This data story presents the relative thematic investment shares of a **specific country**, by fund and category of region and **specific programme** in adopted programmes for 2021-2027 through a series of interactive charts.2021-2027: Adopted National Partnership AgreementsIn this data story you can find the details on the approved 2021-2027 Partnership Agreements by Member State with preliminary EU allocations by programme and high level policy objective.In profile: the Instrument for Pre-Accession - IPA 14-20Cohesion policy 2014-2020: support to the UN SDGsEU cohesion policy is strongly aligned to the UN SDGs. This data story allows you to explore the 2014-2020 investment contribution of cohesion policy to relevant SDGs.2021-2027: Cohesion policy EU budget initial allocationsThe initial breakdown of the 2021-2027 EU budget allocations by country and EU fund were adopted by the Commission on 5 July 2021. This data story presents the different EU allocations in a series of interactive charts.REACT-EU - Fostering crisis repair and resilienceREACT-EU provides € 50.6 billion (current prices) of fresh EU budget resources under the EU Recovery Plan - NextGenerationEU - to address COVID response in existing cohesion policy programmes. Check out where and for what purposes the extra money is being used.In profile: Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD)FEAD supports actions to provide food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived. Explore the progress in EU payments 2014-2020.CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD: COHESION POLICY RESPONSEBased on #ESIFopendata, this dashboard gives insights into the take up of the main CRII/CRII+ measures in response to the coronavirus / COVID-19 crisis.An overview of the EU Solidarity Fund - 2002-2022The EU Solidarity Fund - EUSF - was established in 2002 following severe floods in Central Europe. Between 2002 and 2022, the EUSF mobilised a total of over EUR 8.2 billion for interventions in 127 disaster events. Italy is by far the biggest beneficiary of the Fund with over EUR 3 billion received so far.Statistical analyses
EU regional labour markets - CR9Detailed analysis in the 9th Cohesion Report (2024), reveals the dynamics shaping regional labour markets and social situations across the EU. This interactive data story presents data on resilience and recovery of EU regional labour markets.EU regional patterns in demographic change - CR9This data story presents interactive charts and maps highlighting the differences in demographic trends between EU regions and territories based on the Ninth Cohesion report.Europe's Green jobs - CR9This data story provides a short overview of the state of the shift to green and competitive employment in the EU by assessing the trends in green employment over the past 20 years.EU regional convergence trends - CR9This data story provides a short overview of the state of ‘economic cohesion’ in the EU by assessing long-term economic convergence between regions over the past 20 years.Long term impact of Cohesion Policy CR9The impact of EU cohesion policy can be considerable, with GDP modelled at more than 10% higher in some regions thanks to the 2014-2020 and the 2021-2027 programmes. Use this story to explore the long term modelling results.Less developed regions hold the key for Europe’s energy transition - CR9The expansion of renewable energies production is a key strategy for achieving a climate-neutral continent by 2050. Explore the untapped potential for renewable energy in the EU's regions.EU Regional emissions pathways to net-zero - decarbonisation, climate actionUse this interactive data story to explore EU regional trends in GHG emissions since 1990, the decoupling of growth from emissions and emissions by key sectors.EU discontent and the regional development trapOn this page, you can explore a selection of interactive maps and charts presenting rising Euroscepticism.EU Regional GDP: Post-pandemic reboundThe COVID-19 pandemic outbreak had a severe impact on the European economy with strongly negative regional impacts. The latest regional GDP data point to a broad-based recovery in 2021. Explore regional GDP trends in this datastory.Exploring regional demographic trends - demography, ageing - CR8Based on analysis in the recent 8th Cohesion Report, this page allows you to explore interactive maps and charts on past and future regional demographic trends.Exploring regional innovation gaps - CR8Linked to the recent 8th Cohesion Report, this page allows you to explore an interactive map and charts on regional innovation performance.The regional impact of COVID-19 - CR8COVID-19 has had varied direct impacts in different EU regions. Explore a selection of interactive maps and charts presenting the regional pattern of excess deaths in 2020-2021.Mapping the glass ceiling in the EUExplore the 2021 EU female advantage and disadvantage indices for 235 regions using this interactive and comparative tool.Short presentation EU Social Progress Index - 2020EU Social Progress Index - 2020The EU-SPI was developed as a measure to contribute to the "Beyond GDP" agenda and as a tool to facilitate benchmarking across EU regions.Regional Competitiveness Index 2019 - ArchivedThe Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) allows regions to monitor and assess their development over time and compare with other regionsOther stories
Cohesion Open Data blog - 2021-2025 - archiveBookmark this page and check back regularly for updates and / or follow us on social media #CohesionOpenData.Open data privacy statementAccessibility StatementThis accessibility statement relates to the cohesion open data platform. The website is designed to be used by as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.Cohesion Open Data user survey resultsThe Commission conducts regular surveys of platform users to get feedback on ease of use and ideas for improvements. The structured replies received to the three surveys (2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023) are explored in this story.User Guide to Visualizing Cohesion Open DataA guide to visualizing #CohesionOpenData: creating pie and bar charts.Cohesion Open Data – User GuideA guide to #CohesionOpenData and how to become an open data user, filter and download data and more.Cohesion Open Data: Frequently Asked QuestionsThis story explains the content of Cohesion Open Data https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/Cohesion Open Data Blog: Archive 2014-2020How to reuse cohesion categorisation open data?A guide to understand, download and reuse categorisation data 2014-2020.Cohesion Open Data blog - 2026 onwardsBookmark this page and check back regularly for updates and / or follow us on social media #CohesionOpenData.