Services of general interest cover important arrangements, tasks and functions related to citizen`s welfare and participation. They also refer to the supply of basic infrastructure and services for businesses. On that respect, they are not only preconditions of growth and job creation, but also a fundamental pillar for the achievement of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Moreover, the access to services of general interest represents an important dimension of social and territorial cohesion.

In a globalised world, gateway cities are important focal points of social and economic development and receive considerable policy attention. Gateway cities are transport hubs, nodes in global financial systems, the location of research institutes in cutting-edge international innovation networks and places attracting international tourism.

Free movement of people is one of the cornerstones of European integration. Increasing mobility of people brings with it both territorial development opportunities and challenges. As a consequence of the global economic crisis migration flows have changed, with territorial impacts on European countries, its regions and cities.

Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that ”the Union shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions” and that ”among the regions concerned, particular attention shall be paid to […] regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and island, cross-border and mountain regions.”

The Europe 2020 Strategy aims at responding to the challenges facing Europe, such as the global economic crisis, climate change and energy security by focusing on three growth priorities for ensuring European competitiveness: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Europe’s seas have great potentials for contributing to achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, as regards economic growth and renewable energy. In recent years, the role and importance of maritime potentials has received increasing policy attention, as the idea of Blue Growth has developed.

The Territorial Agenda 2020 addresses maritime activities as essential for territorial cohesion in Europe and establishes that Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) should be integrated into the existing planning systems. On the same line, the EU Integrated Maritime Policy calls for MSP in order to enable harmonious and sustainable development of a land-sea continuum.

EU Cohesion Policy post-2013 focuses on eleven investment themes where cities and regions need to improve their performance in order to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In seeking better integration to maximise the benefits from investment of public money, all key themes of the future European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) need to take account of Europe’s territorial diversity.