EU territorial policies. The cohesion policy is based on title XVII “Economic and social cohesion” of the Treaty on European Union and of the Treaty Establishing the European Community. Economic and social cohesion is not explicitly linked with health issues or health inequalities. The key challenge of territorial policies “is to ensure a balanced and sustainable territorial development of the EU as whole, strengthening its economic competitiveness and capacity for growth while respecting the need to preserve its natural assets and ensuring social cohesion” (COM 2008: 6). Territorial cohesion is seen as a “prerequisite for achieving sustainable economic growth and implementing social and economic cohesion – a European social model”. Therefore in all regions “preconditions to enable equal opportunities for its citizens and development perspectives for entrepreneurship” should be developed (Territorial Agenda ... 2007: 3). A more even and sustainable use of assets is expected to go ahead with “economic gains from less congestion and reduced pressure on costs, with benefits for both the environment and the quality of life.” (COM 2008: 5) Overcoming differences in density (concentration), distance (connection) and division (cooperation) are mentioned as key challenges (COM 2008: 6 f.) – besides the handling of certain types of regions with particular challenges (mountain regions, island regions and sparsely populated regions).
