This paper will focus on exploring the territorial dimension of the cohesion policy of the EU as it was stated in the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion, as being the capacity of the cohesion policy to adapt to the particular needs and characteristics of specific geographical challenges and opportunities. In this respect, the main territorial disparities, which led the EU decision factors to promote the territorial guidelines of the cohesion, will be emphasized. Particular attention will be paid to the various policies with impact on the territorial cohesion, as well as to the place of the territorial development on the European Agenda, namely the European Spatial Development Perspective and the Territorial Agenda of the European Union. In the end, the Romanian approach of the territorial cohesion will be presented in the framework of the programming period 2007-2013.