Following the Cohesion Policy proposals of 6th October 2011, and in order to help Member States with their preparations for the next programming period the Commission presented on 14th March 2012 the "Common Strategic Framework" (CSF).
The intention of the Common Strategic Framework is to help in setting clear investment priorities for the next financial planning period from 2014 until 2020 in Member States and their regions. It will enable a far better combining of various funds to maximise the impact of EU investments. National and regional authorities will use this framework as the basis for drafting their 'Partnership Contracts' with the Commission, committing themselves to meeting Europe's growth and jobs targets for 2020.
It replaces the current separate sets of strategic guidelines for cohesion policy, rural development policy and fisheries and maritime policy and provide a single source of guidance for all five future Funds, (European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, Cohesion Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund), strengthening the integration of EU policies and ensuring greater impact for citizens and businesses on the ground.

The CSF will be adopted in final form only once the legislative package on Cohesion Policy Funds for the next Multiannual Financial Framework proposed on 6th October 2011 has been agreed by the European Parliament and the Council.

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/index_en.cfm