The Republic of Croatia, as a member of the European Union, is at a time characterized by layered challenges that require a quick reaction in the form of finding adequate solutions. Systems that can enable timely forecasting of opportunities, challenges and dangers are being promoted. A great benefit is joint action at the level of the European Union with the aim of strengthening cohesion and reducing development disparities, both in creating policies and in financial assistance to those members who could not independently provide the necessary funds for economic, social and territorial development. Cohesion policy plays a key role in achieving harmonizsed development. The main goal of the work is to demonstrate the expediency of strategic planning within the cohesion policy as a lever for changes towards a smarter, more sustainable, inclusive and innovative society. The significant role or interdependence of public administration and the concept of good management in the complex process of strategic planning, as a key stakeholder in realizing public interests and promoting the common good through the correct way of managing public resources, is emphasized on the path of regional, national and European development. The processing of data and used information was carried out using scientific methods: description, comparative methods of comparison with potentially good practice, analysis of relevant data and synthesis, induction and deduction from which the final conclusion emerged.