Regional inequalities and EU Cohesion Policy: Perspectives of the RSA membership
Regional development has long been a priority of overarching European organizations. In 1988, the first multi-annual European Cohesion Policy came into effect, which prioritized investment in some of Europe’s poorest regions. Since then, Cohesion Policy has supported economic growth, sustainable development, and improvement to quality of life across and beyond the European Union. Despite this policy, however, inequalities remain between countries, regions, and cities. Attendees of the 2026 Regional Studies Association Annual Conference, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, had the opportunity to reflect on the past, present, and future of regional inequalities and the EU Cohesion Policy as one of the conference’s themes.
The conference had two sessions dedicated specifically to Regional Inequalities and EU Cohesion Policy, in which a total of six presentations were shared. Two key discussion topics emerged from these sessions. First, the EU Cohesion Policy can be used to inform regional development policies outside of the European Union. For instance, Sara Kaizuka presented a comparative study of the EU Cohesion Policy and the Japanese Official Development Assistance, outlining the strengths of both programs and identifying areas of improvement that could be inspired by the international counterpart. Meanwhile, Rachel Maguire presented an analysis of the impact of the EU Cohesion Policy on Scotland up until its exit from the European Union, highlighting how future economic policies should continue to prioritise collaboration between Scotland and other countries (primarily Nordic countries). Second, questions arose regarding the effectiveness of the Cohesion Policy as is, and whether the focus should remain on convergence between nations or whether additional support should be provided on smaller scales.
Beyond these two sessions, several conference sessions related to regional inequalities were on the agenda. Regional Inequalities, Left-Behindedness and Poverty reminded conference attendees that inequalities can take several forms and are not solely economic in nature. Research presented in this session discussed inequalities in access to news, community engagement, happiness, demographic change, and personal visibility (physically and in policy). Inequalities are complex and interrelated – reinforcing and contradictory. Local, place-based policy was identified as an important tool for mitigation of uneven regional characteristics.
Another session of interest was Institutionalism for Regional Transformations. It is important to note that institutions can be defined in a variety of ways, from official entities to fringe actors, to societal rules and norms. Presenters in this session argued that the collective ability of institutions to identify societal changes, and therefore new innovative opportunities, is crucial for transformational change within places experiencing demographic change. Fringe actors may prompt this transformation as they innovate within their own spaces, as was demonstrated through the growing gastronomic culture of Stavanger, Norway. More broadly, the institutionalization of citizen science would allow residents to prompt regional transformations through stronger active participation in research.
Finally, several lectures and panel discussions were organized as part of the conference; I will focus on two of these. First, the Policy Panel Session – EU Cities Agenda began with a presentation of this new agenda, in which attendees learned its objectives are to strengthen multi-level governance and to streamline diverse EU-level support. It was also noted that a European survey identified that residents believe a lack of affordable housing is one of the largest challenges in Europe. The latter was extensively discussed during the panel that followed. The panelists highlighted potential opportunities to reduce housing prices, including being more intentional with where housing developments take place (i.e. where the need for housing is greatest), reducing regional, and national constraints that limit local capacity to implement solutions, and introducing experimental policies at a local level that could benefit the housing sector.
The closing lecture, Regional Studies Annual Lecture: Broadening Regional Horizons: Regional Studies, Policy and Development in an Age of Uncertainty, provided an outlook into to future of regional studies, with a particular focus on inequalities between regions. The lecture left conference attendees with important points of reflection regarding navigating future regional inequality. Environmental inequalities may become more pronounced as certain regions and countries prioritize a green transition, potentially placing an environmental burden on other places as a result. Likewise, inequalities in capability (the ability to use existing resources) will play an important role in the future of cities and regions. As places across the globe continue to feel the effects of extensive environmental, economic, political, and social change, the 2026 Regional Studies Association Conference has emphasized that diagnosis, multi-scalar and international collaboration, and place-based and place-informed policies should be prioritized by policymakers.
About the author
Rachel Barber is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography and Planning at Queen’s University, as well as a member of the Population and Place Research Lab. Her doctoral research focuses on left-behind places in the Canadian context.