European Cohesion Policy. Evolution and Outlook

The evolution of what was the common market up to the European Union can be studied from different points of view. In this work we have taken the economic integration and, especially, economic, social and territorial cohesion as key to understanding a process that, despite the current crisis has attracted the attention of professional politicians and scholars. There are four stages. The first, from its origins to the Single European Act (SEA 1987). The second, from the SEA to the Treaty of Amsterdam (TA 1999). The third, from the TA to the great expansion (2004-2007). The fourth, in which we find is an open area. The thesis is maintained that, after the great gallop which represented the SEA and the Delors presidency, the unification of Germany and the collapse of the USSR marked a turning point downwards, whose documentary and financial Reflection is the Agenda 2000. Economic integration is the subject of several attempts to relaunch (Lisbon Strategy, Europe 2020, the Single Market Act), unable to tie up loose ends. On cohesion, since the reform of structural funds, not as now, when most needed, has been so weak the financial and real economic strengthening cohesion. Only in the official literature on the rise. They are views not without controversy. Nevertheless, despite the crisis, despite the lack of leadership and excessive arrogance, worth pursuing in efforts to further progress towards political union.