Samhørighedsfonden blev oprettet for at styrke den økonomiske og sociale samhørighed, og EU bidrager med op til 80-85 % af finansieringen af projekter på miljøområdet og infrastrukturer inden for de transeuropæiske transportnet i de mindst udviklede medlemsstater, herunder Portugal, idet det endelige mål er at sætte alle medlemsstaterne i stand til at deltage i ØMU's sidste fase.
The Cohesion Fund was set up in order to reinforce economic and social cohesion, such that the European Union would fund, to the tune of 80 to 85 %, any projects in the field of the environment and infrastructure works in the sector of transport in the trans-European networks, aimed at the less developed Member States including Portugal, with the ultimate objective that all Member States should be able to participate in the final phase of European economic and monetary union.