Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO) - Main contents

This Directorate-General is responsible for European actions with regard to economic and social development of the least developed regions of the EU. The DG supports such regions with policies and structural programmes aimed at enhancing competitiveness economic growth of those regions.

The DG is responsible for three large funds:

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  The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) i that provides assistance to 27 member states
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  The Cohesion fund i that assists in the areas of environment and transport in the 15 member states in which the GDP is at most 90% of the communitarian mean (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slowakia, Spain and Czech Republic)
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  ISPA that assists potential member states to improve their environmental situation and develop traffic networks

In addition the DG is responsible for the Solidarity fund of the EU, an instrument that provides aid to regions that suffer environmental disaster.