It is considered that, albeit implicit, the EU has had an implicit territorial approach from its inception. Europe's economic geography is characterized by large regional disparities directly affecting its territoriality. Response to disparities is regional policy, now called cohesion policy. The concerns on how to tackle territorial dimension of EU policies more systematically made way for an EU territorial cohesion policy. Everything finalized with 'Territorial Agenda of the European Union, followed by The First Action Programme. This paper is structured by a descriptive language while deduction method is used. It refers to official documents as well as books, articles and assessments related to topic. The scope of this paper covers, besides the Agenda itself, background of Territorial Agenda of EU including territorial cohesion thinking.
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe ads territorial cohesion as Union’s third goal, beside economic and social cohesion and lists it as a shared competence. In the other hand, the Lisbon Strategy aims to turn Europe into the most competitive area of sustainable growth in the world and it is considered that the Territorial cohesion policy should contribute to it. This paper is structured by a descriptive language while deduction method is used. It refers to official documents, strategies, agendas and reports, as well as books, articles and assessments related to topic. This paper covers all of two Territorial Agendas as well as the background of territorial cohesion thinking and setting process of territorial cohesion policy.
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