Transformative reorientation of the regional structural policy within the German funding system (GFS)

Regional structural policy in Germany is mainly organised in the "Gesamtdeutsches Fördersystem" (GFS). This aims to strengthen the prosperity of economically weak regions and the equivalence of living conditions within Germany. The ongoing development of the GFS is intended to ensure that its funding programmes make a contribution to the necessary transformation towards sustainability. To this end, we should avoid environmentally and climate-damaging funding and ensure a just transition to a more sustainable economy, also from a regional perspective.

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) funds this research project with the aim of developing a concept for an environmentally sustainable, forward-looking (preemptive) and transformative structural policy. This is intended to consistently derive and justify objectives, criteria and indicators for appropriate regional support, which can also be used to evaluate existing programmes.

In the course of the research project, a multi-stage development process is being pursued. Stakeholders from funding practice are intensively involved and the concept will be refined from a preliminary concept to a coherent "compass" and specific recommendations for the GFS.

The research project is being conducted by the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) in cooperation with the Öko-Institut e.V. and the FiFo Institute for Public Economics at the University of Cologne.