European Union Cohesion Policy is the main instrument for implementation of objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion. It consumes the second largest part of the budget of the European Union, and is compatible with the EU Strategy for smart growth and high rates of employment. The instruments of implementation of cohesion policy articulated by dedicated structural funds - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund (CF), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Functional integration of spatial units in the context of the new EU cohesion policy is necessary to be seen on all regional levels, and traffic and mobility are priority topics of sustainable development of the European Union. Key parameters are identified within the modelling of development scenarios for formation of the European area in the coming decades - demographic, economic growth and transport. The research of this thesis is focused on issues of complementarity transport development and polycentric socio-economic development at the European level with special emphasis on the development potentials of air traffic in parrying the objectives of EU cohesion policy.