The European Commission has presented for the next programming period the "Common Strategic Framework" (CSF) proposal, which is intended to enable a far better combining of various funds to maximise the impact of EU investments. The CSF will be adopted in final form only once the legislative package on Cohesion Policy Funds is formally adopted by the Council and the European Parliament.

In order to help Member States with their preparations for the next programming period the Commission has presented the "Common Strategic Framework" (CSF), which is intended to help in setting clear investment priorities for the next financial planning period from 2014 until 2020 in Member States and their regions. This proposal follows the Cohesion Policy proposals published last October and is foreseen to be used by national and regional authorities as the basis for drafting their 'Partnership Contracts' with the Commission.

According to the Commission, this overview replaces the current separate sets of strategic guidelines for cohesion policy, rural development policy and fisheries and maritime policy and provide a single source of guidance for all five future Funds, (ERDF, ESF, Cohesion Fund, EAFRD and EMFF), strengthening the integration of EU policies and ensuring greater impact for citizens and businesses on the ground. CSF also differs from the current strategic guidelines on a stronger alignment with Europe 2020, European strategy for growth and jobs, and with EU Economic Governance.

Moreover, it will implement a five-step plan for developing Partnership Contracts to be signed with the European Commission and programmes tailor-made to specific territorial characteristics. In the CSF will be priority areas for action through territorial cooperation between and among regions and Member States, where such cooperation has a particular added value. Finally, the CSF upholds the horizontal principles of equality between men and women, non-discrimination, and sustainable development.