This Regulation establishes the tasks of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the scope of its support with regard to the Investment for growth and jobs goal and the European territorial cooperation goal and specific provisions concerning ERDF support for the Investment for growth and jobs goal. The ERDF shall contribute to the financing of support which aims to reinforce economic, social and territorial cohesion by redressing the main regional imbalances in the European Union through the sustainable development and structural adjustment of regional economies, including the conversion of declining industrial regions and regions whose development is lagging behind. Investment priorities include the following, among others: strengthening research, technological development and innovation; enhancing access to, and use and quality of ICT; enhancing the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors; promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management; preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency; promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination.
Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency shall be supported by: (a) investing in the water and waste sectors to meet the requirements of the European Union's environmental acquis; (b) conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage; (c) protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure; (d) taking action to improve the urban environment, to revitalise cities, regenerate and decontaminate brownfield sites (including conversion areas), reduce air pollution and promote noise-reduction measures; (e) promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution; (f) supporting industrial transition towards a resource-efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors.
The shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors shamm be supported by: (a) promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable sources; (b) promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in enterprises; (c) supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector; (d) promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility and mitigation-relevant adaptation measures; (e) promoting research and innovation in, and adoption of, low-carbon technologies; (f) promoting the use of high-efficiency co-generation of heat and power based on useful heat demand.