Enlargement to 25 Member States radically alters the socio-economic status quo. The surface area of the Union increases by 23%, its population rises by 20%, while its wealth rises by a mere 5%. The average GDP per head falls by 13%, and regional disparities double. In July 2004, the European Commission adopted seven legislative proposals for the future of its regional policy. Its new budget of EUR 336.1 billion would make this policy the largest heading in the Community budget, accounting for a third of the budget. Union action will henceforth concentrate on crucial development problems. It will be more in line with the Lisbon and Gothenburg strategic orientations, and play a role in the implementation of the European employment strategy .

• Proposal of 14 July 2004 for a Council Regulation laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund -COM(2004) 492 final]
• Proposal of 14 July 2004 for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Regional Development Fund [COM(2004) 495 final].
• Proposal of 14 July 2004 for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund [COM(2004) 493 final] (download)
• Proposal of 14 July 2004 for a Regulation of the Council establishing the European Cohesion Fund [COM(2004) 494 final].

• Third progress report on cohesion (ppt)
• Community Strategic Guidelines for cohesion 2007 - 2013 (ppt)
• Investing in Europe's Member States and regions (ppt)
• Cohesion Policy and its financial instruments (ppt)
• Community Strategic Guidelines, 2007-2013 (pdf)
• Legislative proposals for the reform of cohesion policy (pdf)
• Regulation proposals (ppt)