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Support for the Cohesion for Transitions platform (C4T)

Client

European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)

Year

ongoing

Partner

Ecorys, Viegand Maagøe


For the European Green Deal to be successful, all EU regions must become climate-neutral. Structurally weak regions in particular need support here. EU cohesion policy therefore promotes sustainable change and economic development in disadvantaged regions.

To enable cohesion regions to utilise EU funds even more effectively for sustainability transitions, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) has commissioned a consortium consisting of Prognos, Ecorys and Viegand Maagøe to set up the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) Community of Practice platform.

The first phase of C4T was completed in December 2024. Prognos continues to support the expert consortium in the second phase till end of 2027.

Scientific expert advice to find joint solutions

The aim of the C4T platform is to bring together political decision-makers, administrative authorities, civil society and academia to promote knowledge and exchange on the implementation of the European Green Deal in cohesion policy.

C4T involves national, regional and local cohesion and sustainability experts to share experiences, build partnerships and find solutions together. The platform covers all EU regions in Europe.

DG REGIO has commissioned Prognos with the following tasks within the C4T project:

  • Establishment and moderation of an Academic Sounding Board
  • Monitoring the knowledge pieces developed by the scientists at the interface between sustainability transformation and cohesion policy
  • Moderation of the Climate Working Group with regional and national authorities
  • Technical support for regional actors and ministries (C4T Groundwork Technical Assistance)

Prognos selected the Academic Sounding Board in a comprehensive process. It consists of high-ranking scientists with extensive expertise in the fields of climate, environment and energy. The participants come from various EU countries. The aim of the expert council is to use their knowledge to support the project working groups in better utilising EU cohesion funds in terms of sustainability transformation.

The members of the Academic Sounding Board regularly write Knowledge Pieces as part of their work. Among other things, these provide the managing authorities with useful knowledge about the way in which cohesion policy investments can be implemented and examine the various facets of needs and challenges through to solutions.

The following Knowledge Pieces have been developed and are available for download:

Implementing renewable energy investments with Cohesion Policy to enable sustainability transitions

This Knowledge Piece focuses on how to deploy renewable energies within a sustainability transitions process with Cohesion Policy.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Nature-based solutions (NBS) for sustainable climate adaptation within Cohesion Policy

This Knowledge Piece focuses on the essential knowledge needed to work with NBS in climate adaptation to different climate risks, taking sustainability transitions as a framework concept for it.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Bottlenecks and good practices of DNSH implementation in Cohesion Policy: a comparison between rural and urban areas

This Knowledge Piece focuses on specific bottlenecks in implementing the DNSH principle applied to ECP programmes in urban and rural areas. This contribution also analyses how the DNSH principle is evaluated in a selection of EU Member States and provides solutions and recommendations on how this principle can be evaluated more effectively.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Climate Proofing Cohesion Policy funding: guidance for adaptation finance

The Knowledge Piece outlines how to identify and evaluate important climate risks and incorporate them into the planning and funding of climate adaptation projects supported by cohesion policy funds.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Innovation and Exnovation in regional transitions towards sustainability: the role of cohesion policy

The Knowledge Piece offers insight into the factors that have led to successful regional transitions towards sustainable development pathways.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Sustainable Water Management with Cohesion Policy

The Knowledge Piece provides guidance on the numerous complex dimensions of sustainable water management, particularly focusing on financing and governance challenges.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Shaping future Cohesion Policy for sustainability transitions: preliminary insights from the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) Community of Practice

The Knowledge Piece outlines several dimensions that the future framework for the European Union’s cohesion policy (CP) needs to address to support the transitions needed for ensuring sustainable responses to various economic, social, and environmental challenges, particularly in the context of achieving climate neutrality and fostering territorial cohesion.

To the Knowledge Piece

To the Factsheet

Two physical meetings are held a year bringing together the various stakeholders, to exchange ideas and to work on solutions. In addition to this, Prognos, together with the academic experts, provides analytical skills to support the implementation process.

On-the-Ground Support for Regional Implementation

The C4T GROUNDWORK supports implementation of sustainability transitions. The support delivered varies from setting up one-stop-shops, identification of project financing, capacity building to mobilizing stakeholders and collecting good practices. 

During the previous project period, Prognos provided technical assistance to four European regions and will continue to support additional regions in the current cycle. 

Factsheets summarising the delivery approach and key findings are available here:

Nature-based Solutions for flood management in Cyprus

Prognos provided advice focused on the development of a monitoring concept and estimating the costs of the NbS intervention measures, as well as on any further preparatory works (studies, etc.) needed to acquire funding.

To the Factsheet

Strategic advice to advance capacity-building efforts for energy efficiency in buildings in Coimbra

Prognos described possible roles of municipal energy staff or positions and the required competencies and provided advice on surveying municipal staff to assess needs. They also formulated recommendations and suggestions for specific objectives and overall objectives for capacity building in the Coimbra Region related to energy efficiency in buildings.

To the Factsheet

Analysis of smart grids projects for the managing authority of Sustentavel 2030 (Portugal)

Prognos conducted an analysis of calls for ERDF funded smart grids projects, in response to the need specified by Sustentavel 2030. This resulted in a documentation of similar calls and the experiences generated by other EU Member States’ MA in designing call requirements or related criteria for the design of calls for ERDF smart grids projects.

To the Factsheet

Analysis of circular economy calls and funding opportunities for the Hungarian Ministry of Energy

Prognos analysed calls of circular economy programmes (ERDF/CF/LIFE+/Horizon Europe/national-funded) with a focus on the characteristics and opportunities relevant to the Hungarian economy and the scope of the EEEOP Plus focal area Development of a circular economy. The C4T Groundwork also analysed funds co-financed by the ERDF using financial instruments to support SMEs.

To the Factsheet


Links and downloads

More about the project (website)

To the Knowledge Repository

Project team: Elias Althoff, Hanne Hagedorn, Anna Kronvall, Paurnima Kulkarni, Lukas Sander, Richard Simpson

Last update: 21.05.2025

News from the project

C4T Conference: Driving Sustainability through Cohesion Policy

-
| Event

Prognos chairs the meeting of the Academic Sounding Board and the working group on climate adaptation. The aim is to further refine proposed measures on the path to a climate-neutral Europe.

C4T final forum

| Event

The Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform aims to support structurally weak regions on the path to climate neutrality. The forum will take stock of the programme: What has been achieved so far and where do we go from here?

2nd Cohesion for Transitions Conference & Meetings

-
| Event

Our colleagues are travelling to the conference as part of their work for the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) platform and are chairing both a meeting of the science network and a working group.

C4T Working Groups und Academic Sounding Board Meeting

| Event

In dem Forum wird Hanne Hagedorn eine Arbeitsgruppe zum Thema 'Climate' moderieren, während Michelle Reuter und Richard Simpson ein Treffen des wissenschaftlichen Expertenrats („Academic Sounding Board") begleiten.

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Richard Simpson

Project Manager

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Hanne Hagedorn

Project Manager

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Anna Kronvall

Consultant

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About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

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