A new article by Laura Polverari and Cristina Zerbinati has been published in volume 3/2025 of the Rivista Giuridica del Mezzogiorno. The article, written in Italian, is entitled: Il nuovo approccio alla politica di coesione proposto dalla Commissione europea per il 2028–2034: lezioni apprese o salto nel buio? (pp. 535–558).

The article examines the new approach to EU cohesion policy proposed by the European Commission for the 2028–2034 programming period, situating it within the broader evolution of cohesion policy as one of the cornerstones of European integration. Over time, cohesion policy has been increasingly aligned with overarching EU strategies—from the Lisbon Strategy to Europe 2020 and the European Green Deal—and has evolved towards a stronger focus on results and performance accountability. Despite these developments, cohesion policy has so far remained anchored to a well-established regulatory and procedural framework, often perceived as rigid and complex. This framework is based on the approval of national strategies (Partnership Agreements) and national and subnational operational programmes, developed according to shared principles and common rules for financial management, monitoring, and evaluation.

Against this background, the article contributes to the ongoing debate on the future of cohesion policy and the EU budget at a critical juncture for the European Union, when internal policies—including those aimed at social, economic, and territorial cohesion—risk being overshadowed by competing priorities.

The article is Open Access and can be found here: