Challenges, consultations and concepts : preparing for the cohesion policy debate

This paper discusses preparing for the cohesion policy debate, in particular the challenges, the consulations and the concepts. It was presented at the 30th meeting of the European Regional Policy Research Consortium (EoRPA) in October 2009

Ex post evaluation of the management and implementation of cohesion policy 2000-06 (ERDF)

This report has been drafted by the European Policies Research Centre (University of Strathclyde) as part of an ex post evaluation of the management and implementation systems for Cohesion policy, 2000-06, which has been commissioned by DG REGIO and which is being managed by EPRC and Metis (Vienna) under European Commission contract no: 2007.CE.16.0.AT.034. The report provides an overview of the main features of management and implementation systems across the EU25 in the 2000-06 period (2004-06 for the EU10) and has been drafted by Professor John Bachtler, Laura Polverari and Frederike Gross, with assistance from Dr Sara Davies and Ruth Downes. The research is based on studies of individual countries undertaken by EPRC together with national experts from each of the EU25 Member States. The authors are grateful for helpful comments from the DG REGIO Evaluation Unit and Geographical Units, in particular Anna Burylo, Veronica Gaffey and Kai Stryczynski. Any errors or omissions remain the responsibility of the authors

Quod erat demonstrandum? the evaluation of regional policy

Book chapter summarising and evaluating European regional policy with close examination of Structural Fund programmes

Regional problems and policies in Central and Eastern-Europe

During late 1989 and early 1990, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) began to initiate far-reaching processes of political liberalization and economic restructuring. In the early stages of the reform process, the attention of policymakers was concentrated primarily on the national implications of CEE countries moving from highly centralized, state-controlled economies to free-market systems. However, several important regional issues were also of concern, notably the degree to which the regions of CEE countries would participate in, and be affected by, the restructuring processes, as well as the effects on the neighbouring regions of the European Community. Policy debate also focused on the types of regional policies that might emerge in the CEE countries and the forms of regional development support that could be provided from Western source

Grants for inward investors - giving away money

Countries' use of grants as incentives to attract inward investment are governed by the ceilings which the European Commission sets on the maximum levels of regional aid that may be awarded in different area of EC. The permitted ceilings are higher in the less developed regions of the EC than in the northern European states. The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland have similar eligibility conditions for awarding grants to inward investors. The applicant has to invest in certain 'designated' areas, in projects which are viable. The planned investment must usually involve national benefits in the form of a minimum level of job creation or investment, technology transfer, local purchasing or international exports

Restructuring the regions - analysis, policy model and prognosis

This article is an abstract of the book entitled 'Restructuring the regions - analysis, policy model and prognosis' by D.Wadle

Regional Development in the 1990s - the British Isles in Transition - Townroe, P and Martin, P

Paradoxically, in view of the low priority accorded to regional policy and regional planning in the UK over the past decade, regional development studies remain a popular field for enquiry judging by the number of new books and journals in this area. Regional Development in the 1990s, the fourth book in the 'Regional Policy and Development' series published by Jessica Kingsley and the Regional Studies Association, is one of the most ambitious of the recent offerings. The book, sponsored by the RSA, comprises an update and extension of the 'Inquiry' into regional problems and issues in the United Kingdom conducted by the Association in 1983. However, this publication has a much broader scope. In addition to regional profiles, the book contains a series of thematic contributions on specialist aspects of regional development, together producing a collection of 37 essays by 47 authors

1992 and regional-development

With the recent and continuing fervour of activity surrounding European integration, '1992' is extremely appropriate both as a year and theme for a Special Issue of Regional Studies. When the Single European Market (SEM) programme was launched in 1985, it seemed that the social and spatial dimensions of the process might be left behind. Cecchini, for example, gave only brief mention to regional disparities; his main concern was that they should not stand in the way of greater European integration. Delors believed that the SEM would promote convergence, expecting that all regions would benefit from the trickle down effect of European economic growth, and regional disparities would be reduced by falling transport costs, the greater locational flexibility of investment and government assistance (DELORS1,9 88)

Inward investment in the UK and the Single European Market

The impact of completing the Single European Market (SEM) on the economies ofthe Member States is predicted as a combination of economies of scale and greater competition (CECCHINI1, 988). In spatial terms, this implies a reallocation of resources to exploit the comparative advantage of different regions and countries. For the problem regions, especially those on the periphery of Europe, the integration process could lead to a variety of adverse sectoral and regional consequences. The effect of greater competition, for example, may reduce indigenous sectoral strengths and diversity and increase external control. The emergence or strengthening of agglomeration tendencies in core regions may lead to a growing centralization of investment and decision-making

Reforming EU cohesion policy: a reappraisal of the performance of the structural funds

The aim of this article is to reassess the effectiveness of Cohesion policy. It examines the evidence for the performance of the policy since 1988, with a view to testing four main assumptions: that convergence is taking place at national and regional levels; that Cohesion policy has made a durable contribution to convergence and regional restructuring, in terms of GDP and employment; that Cohesion policy funds have been spent in the most effective way; and that there is a wider added value from Cohesion policy spending. The article goes on to consider issues for the budget review and how the effectiveness of Cohesion policy at the European level might be improved