The European Commission published its third report on Cohesion entitled "A New Partnership for Cohesion- Convergence Competitiveness Cooperation" in February 2004. These proposals envisaged a Cohesion policy with stronger links to the need for sustainable economic growth in the EU (Lisbon and Göteborg processes) and with the European Employment Strategy, with increased emphasis on competitiveness, employment, and social cohesion. Significant changes were proposed in the method of planning, implementation, and management of the Structural and Cohesion funds.
It was agreed that Programmes co-financed through the Cohesion Policy would target resources on the following three priorities:
improving the attractiveness of Member States, Regions and cities by improving accessibility, ensuring adequate quality and level of services, and preserving their environmental potential;
encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy by research and innovation capacities, including new information and communication technologies; and
creating more and better jobs by attracting more people into employment or entrepreneurial activity, improving adaptability of workers and enterprises and increasing investment in human capital.
