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1. In accordance with the policy objectives set out in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the ERDF shall support the following specific objectives:

(a) a more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity (PO 1) by:

(i) developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies;

(ii) reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities;

(iii) enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments;

(iv) developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship;

(v) enhancing digital connectivity;

(vi) supporting investments contributing to the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) referred to in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council ().

(b) a greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility (PO 2) by:

(i) promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions;

(ii) promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein;

(iii) developing smart energy systems, grids and storage outside the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E);

(iv) promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches;

(v) promoting access to water and sustainable water management;

(vi) promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy;

(vii) enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution; (viii) promoting sustainable multimodal urban mobility, as part of transition to a net zero carbon economy;

(ix) supporting investments contributing to the STEP objective referred to in Article 2(1), point (a)(ii), of Regulation (EU) 2024/795;

(x) supporting investments aimed at reconstruction in response to a natural disaster that occurs between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025.

(c) a more connected Europe by enhancing mobility (PO 3) by:

(i) developing a climate resilient, intelligent, secure, sustainable and intermodal TEN-T;

(ii) developing and enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility;

(d) a more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (PO 4) by:

(i) enhancing the effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour markets and access to quality employment through developing social infrastructure and promoting social economy;

(ii) improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education, training and lifelong learning through developing accessible infrastructure, including by fostering resilience for distance and on-line education and training;

(iii) promoting the socioeconomic inclusion of marginalised communities, low income households and disadvantaged groups, including people with special needs, through integrated actions, including housing and social services;

(iv) promoting the socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including migrants through integrated actions, including housing and social services;

(v) ensuring equal access to health care and fostering resilience of health systems, including primary care, and promoting the transition from institutional to family-based and community-based care;

(vi) enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in economic development, social inclusion and social innovation;

(e) a Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of all types of territories and local initiatives (PO 5) by:

(i) fostering the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in urban areas;

(ii) fostering the integrated and inclusive social, economic and environmental local development, culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in areas other than urban areas. Support under PO5 shall be provided through territorial and local development strategies, through the forms set out in points (a), (b) and (c) of Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.

1a. The resources under the specific objective referred to in paragraph 1, points (a)(vi) and (b)(ix), shall be programmed under dedicated priorities corresponding to the respective policy objective and shall be limited to a maximum of 20 % of the initial national allocation of the ERDF. The Commission shall pay 30 % of the allocation to the priorities referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph as set out in the decision approving the programme amendment as exceptional one-off pre-financing in addition to the yearly pre-financing for the programme provided for in Article 90(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 or in Article 51(2), (3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1059 of the European Parliament and of the Council (). That exceptional pre-financing shall be paid within 60 days of the adoption of the Commission decision approving the programme amendment, provided that the programme amendment is submitted to the Commission by 31 March 2025.

In accordance with Article 90(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 and Article 51(5) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1059, the amount paid as exceptional pre-financing shall be cleared from the Commission accounts no later than with the final accounting year. In accordance with Article 90(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, any interest generated by the exceptional pre-financing shall be used for the programme concerned in the same way as the ERDF and shall be included in the accounts for the final accounting year. In accordance with Article 97(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the exceptional pre-financing shall not be suspended. In accordance with Article 105(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the pre-financing to be taken into account for the purposes of calculating amounts to be de-committed shall include the exceptional pre-financing paid. By way of derogation from Article 112 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the maximum co-financing rates for dedicated priorities established to support the STEP objectives shall be 100 %.

The resources allocated under the specific objective referred to in paragraph 1, point (b)(x), of this Article shall be programmed under dedicated priorities of programmes under the Investment for jobs and growth goal corresponding to the respective policy objective. For the entire programming period, the resources allocated under that specific objective and the dedicated priorities established pursuant to Article 12b(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 shall be limited to a maximum of 10 % of the initial total national allocation of the ESF+ and the ERDF. The programme amendment concerned shall be submitted within six months of the date on which the damage as a consequence of the natural disaster first occurred or, where the natural disaster occurred before 24 December 2024, by 25 June 2025.

The Commission shall pay 25 % of the allocation to the priorities referred to in the third subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with the decision approving the programme amendment as exceptional pre-financing in addition to the yearly pre-financing for the programme provided for in Article 90(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. That exceptional pre-financing shall be paid within 60 days of the adoption of the Commission decision approving the programme amendment, subject to the availability of funds. Where the allocation to those priorities is subsequently increased, an additional pre-financing amount shall be paid, corresponding to 25 % of the increase. In accordance with Article 90(5), first subparagraph, of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the amount paid as exceptional pre-financing shall be cleared from the Commission accounts no later than with the final accounting year. In accordance with Article 90(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, any interest generated by the exceptional pre-financing shall be used for the programme concerned in the same way as the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund and shall be included in the accounts for the final accounting year.

In accordance with Article 97(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the exceptional pre-financing shall not be suspended. In accordance with Article 105(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the pre-financing to be taken into account for the purposes of calculating amounts to be de-committed shall include the exceptional pre-financing paid. By way of derogation from Article 112(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the maximum co-financing rate for a dedicated priority established to support the specific objective referred to in paragraph 1, point (b)(x), of this Article shall be 95 %. Member States shall ensure that support from another Union instrument, from a national instrument or from a private insurance scheme received for operations selected under the specific objective referred to in paragraph 1, point (b)(x), of this Article is deducted from the expenditure included in the payment application submitted to the Commission.

By way of derogation from Article 63(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, the managing authority concerned may select for support, under a dedicated priority, operations that have been physically completed or fully implemented before the submission of the application for funding to the managing authority, provided that the operation provides a response to a natural disaster which occurs between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025.

2. Under the two specific objectives of point (e) of paragraph 1, Member States may also support operations which can be funded under the specific objectives set out under points (a) to (d) of that paragraph.

3. The Cohesion Fund shall support PO 2 and 3, including the specific objective set out in paragraph 1, point (b)(x), insofar as it is in line with the scope of support as set out in Article 6.

4. Within the specific objectives set out in paragraph 1, the ERDF or the Cohesion Fund, as appropriate, may also support activities under the Investment for jobs and growth goal, where they:

(a) improve the capacity of programme authorities;

(b) improve the capacity of sectoral or territorial actors responsible for carrying out activities relevant to the implementation of the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, provided that it contributes to the objectives of the programme; or (c) enhance cooperation with partners both within and outside a given Member State. Cooperation referred to in point (c) shall include cooperation with partners from cross-border regions, from non-contiguous regions or from regions located in the territory covered by a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, a macro-regional or sea-basin strategy or a combination thereof.

Specific objectives for the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund

1b. For the purposes of paragraph 1, point (b)(x), of this Article, a natural disaster shall be understood to be a major natural disaster or a regional natural disaster as defined, respectively, in Article 2(2) and (3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 (). This may include a natural disaster resulting in direct damage below the thresholds set in Article 2(2) and (3) of that Regulation, provided that it was recognised as a natural disaster by a competent public authority of the Member State. Where the natural disaster resulting in direct damage below the thresholds set in Article 2(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 occurs after 24 December 2024, it shall be understood to be a natural disaster provided that it is recognised as such by a competent public authority of the relevant Member State within 12 weeks of the date of the first occurrence of damage as a consequence of that natural disaster.