Europos Sąjungos sanglaudos teisinės prigimties problemos

Abstract

This article concerns the Cohesion Law in terms of Structural Funds and other financial instruments of the European Union. Cohesion is not defined in the European Union Treaty. The concept of Cohesion was formally introduced into the EEC Treaty by the Single European Act. In this act this provision meant that Cohesion became an implicit objective of the Treaty. However, the Treaty makes clear that Cohesion requires the reduction of disparities between the levels of the development of the various Union regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions or islands, including rural areas. The implication is that pursuit of Cohesion and, therefore the operations of union funds are bound up with the concept of equality. The meaning of the relevant provisions may not only vary in time. Their meaning may also vary depending on the institutional context of operations.