Suchergebnisse

In this contribution, we present an innovative data-driven model to reconstruct a reliable temporal pattern for time-lagged statistical monetary figures. Our research cuts across several domains regarding the production of robust economic inferences and the bridging of top-down aggregated information from central databases with disaggregated information obtained from local sources or national statistical offices. Our test bed case study is the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The application we discuss deals with the reported time lag between the local expenditures of ERDF by beneficiaries in Italian regions and the corresponding payments reported in the European Commission database. Our model reconstructs the timing of these local expenditures by back-dating the observed European Commission reimbursements. The inferred estimates are then validated against the expenditures reported from the Italian National Managing Authorities. (NMAs) in terms of cumulative monetary difference. The lower cumulative yearly distance of our modelled expenditures compared to the official European Commission payments confirms the robustness of our model. Using sensitivity analysis, we also analyse the relative importance of the modelling parameters on the cumulative distance between the modelled and reported expenditures. The parameters with the greatest influence on the uncertainty of this distance are the following: first, how the non-clearly regionalised expenditures are attributed to individual regions; and second, the number of backward years that the residuals of the yearly payments are spread onto. In general, the distance between the modelled and reported expenditures can be further reduced by fixing these parameters. However, the gain is only marginal for some regions. The present study paves the way for modelling exercises that are aimed at more reliable estimates of the expenditures on the ground by the ultimate beneficiaries of European funds. Additionally, the output databases can contribute to enhancing the ...

Since the reform of the Structural Funds in 1989, the EU has made the principle of cohesion one of its key policies. Much of the language of European cohesion policy eschews the idea of trade-offs between efficiency and equity, suggesting it is possible to maximize overall growth while also achieving continuous convergence in outcomes and productivity across Europe's regions. Yet, given the rise in inter-regional disparities, it is unclear that cohesion policy has altered the pathway of development from what would have occurred in the absence of intervention. This article draws on geographical economics, institutionalist social science and endogenous growth theory, with the aim of providing a fresh look at cohesion policy. By highlighting a complex set of potential trade-offs and interrelations – overall growth and efficiency; inter-territorial equity; territorial democracy and governance capacities; and social equity within places – it revisits the rationale of cohesion policy, with particular attention to the geographical dynamics of economic development.

Much of rural Europe is steadily shifting away from our twentieth century conceptions. However, rural policy has been slow to adjust. There is an urgent need for a fresh approach, more attuned to contemporary realities and issues, which we shall term "Rural Cohesion Policy". Rural Europe has in many senses been transformed in recent years, particularly by the arrival of broadband internet, together with all the changes in business practice, consumer preferences, working conditions, education, service delivery, and other aspects of daily life. Transport infrastructure has been extended and improved in many parts of Europe. A large swathe of rural areas in the Centre and East of Europe has experienced the effects of accession to the Single Market. This report is based on findings from the EDORA (European Development Opportunities in Rural Areas) project. The overarching aim of EDORA was to examine the process of differentiation in rural areas, in order to better understand how EU, national and regional policy can enable these areas to build upon their specific potentials to achieve (in the words of the EU 2020 strategy) "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth." EDORA was a project funded under the ESPON 2013 programme. It began in September 2008 and was completed in March 2011. This project was coordinated by the University of the Highlands and Islands, supported by a large consortium representing twelve EU Member States.

The objective of this case study is to investigate EU Cohesion policy performance and communication in Scotland and the impact on citizens' attitudes to the EU. The case study also contextualises comparative COHESIFY research findings and provides more in - depth insights into the performance and communication of Cohesion policy. The case study focuses on two ERDF and two ESF Operational Programmes in 2007-13 (covering two programme areas of the Highlands and Islands, and the Lowlands and Uplands of Scotland) and Scotland - wide ERDF and ESF Operational Programmes in 2014-20. The selection criteria for the case study included Cohesion policy eligibility and financial intensity, programme type, governance system and European identity.

This paper provides a complex analysis of measures simplifying the European Union's cohesion policy post-2020. The text explains the need for simplification and describes how it could be achieved in various areas. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the current state of rules governing the cohesion policy, to define the main obstacles that prevent this policy from smooth implementation and functioning, and to present and analyse potential improvements from a legal and economic point of view. The text reflects recent developments in this area. The methods of description, analysis, comparison, and synthesis were used.

When preparing the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), Member States were supported by the European Commission but denied the EU a competence in the matter. Currently, the Treaty of Lisbon identifies territorial cohesion as a competence shared between the Union and the Member States. This paper is about the process architecture of territorial cohesion policy. In the past, this architecture resembled the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) which the White Paper on European Governance praised, but only in areas where there was no EU competence. This reflected zero-sum thinking which may continue even under the Lisbon Treaty. After all, for as long as territorial cohesion was not a competence, voluntary cooperation as practiced in the ESDP process was pursued in this way. However, the practice of EU policies, even in areas where there is an EU competence, often exhibits features of the OMC. Surprisingly effective innovations hold the promise of rendering institutions of decision making comprehensible and democratically accountable. In the EU as a functioning polity decision making is thus at least part deliberative so that actors' preferences are transformed by the force of the better argument. This brings into focus the socialisation of the deliberators into epistemic communities. Largely an informal process, this is reminiscent of European spatial planning having been characterised as a learning process. ; The paper is published by the European Journal of Spatial Development (EJSD). The previous version of the journal was host by Nordregio.

Abstract
This paper explores possibilities for cross-fertilization between the mission-oriented approach (MOA), informing the European Union (EU) Missions, and Cohesion Policy (CP). It argues for mutual policy learning between CP and MOA to address their shortcomings: CP faces a gradual erosion of its identity, while MOA lacks a territorial perspective. MOA can offer a theoretical 'blueprint' for reorganizing and clarifying CP's ever-expanding and blurred thematic scope, providing direction to strengthen CP's result orientation, and encouraging the adoption of 'whole-of-government' approaches to streamline CP's complex governance relationships. MOA can benefit from adopting the CP architecture, which allows for common broad priorities to be adapted to territorial contexts and to regional strategies. MOA could also learn from CP's goal of maximizing equity and efficiency, its focus on empowering regions, and its redistributive approach for fostering the full potential of all regions to address societal challenges to support the objectives of the EU Missions.

The main objective of this paper is to describe the performance of the EU Cohesion Policy in terms of EU funds effectiveness. The effectiveness in the absorption of funds is a permanent challenge for EU member states, and therefore, the analysis of the absorption capacity is needed in its different spheres: its scope, its determinants and its effects. The present paper deals with the first one, the scope of the absorption of EU resources and focus on an aspect that has been widely forgotten so far: the regional variation in the absorption of the structural funds. Based on EU regional aggregate data on funds commitment and absorption provided by the European Commission for the Operating Program 2007-2013 at the NUTS2 level, we observe thatfull absorption was more the exception than the rule, with an important regional variation. In addition, we offer a discussion on how lack of timely available regional data on EU fund payments hinders the analysis of the effectiveness of the regional absorption of the funds.

'Die Kohäsionspolitik ist seit Mitte der achtziger Jahre zu einem zentralen Politikbereich der EU geworden. Allerdings unterliegt diese Gemeinschaftspolitik einem ständigen Anpassungsdruck. Kaum hat man sich für eine Förderperiode auf Grundlagen, Ziele, Gelder, Prioritäten und die administrative Abwicklung geeinigt, beginnt die nächste Reformdebatte. Bei der neuerlichen Diskussion stehen sich zwei kohäsionspolitische Modelle gegenüber: a) die traditionelle Strukturpolitik zur Förderung der rückständigsten Regionen in der EU; b) die 'lissabonisierte' Politik als Hilfe zur Steigerung von Wettbewerbsfähigkeit, Wachstum und Beschäftigung. Beide Ansätze unterscheiden sich fundamental hinsichtlich Zielsetzung und Instrumenten, der rechtlichen Grundlagen und Vorgaben sowie der Begünstigten und deren Interessen. Die neuerliche Reform der Kohäsionspolitik muss auf einen Ausgleich zwischen den Intentionen der 'lissabonisierten' Kohäsionspolitik und den vertraglich verankerten Zielen der Solidarität und der regionalen Kohäsion der traditionellen Politik hinauslaufen. Die Überlegungen sollten sich um pragmatische Anpassungen und Weiterentwicklungen drehen - Themen, bei denen Kompromisslösungen erreichbar scheinen. Aus deutscher Sicht muss die Kohäsionspolitik sich stärker auf prioritäre Ziele und Regionen konzentrieren und subsidiär umgesetzt werden, um eine effektive, zielgenaue und an die Bedürfnisse der Empfänger angepasste Förderpolitik zu gewährleisten. Vor die Wahl gestellt, sich zwischen flexibler Umsetzung, verbunden mit abgeschwächten Kontroll- und Berichtspflichten, und einem höheren Nutzen der Kohäsionspolitik zu entscheiden, sollte sich Deutschland als großer Nettozahler in der EU für die effizientere Verwendung der knappen Ressourcen einsetzen.' (Autorenreferat)

This paper assesses whether European Cohesion Policy funds from the 2007‑2013 programming period affected business dynamics in European regions. Using a regression discontinuity approach, the analysis shows that regions receiving more funds experienced higher firm births, without statistically significant firm deaths, resulting in positive net firm creation and growing firm-related employment. In addition, this study confirms previous findings in the literature according to which regions receiving more funds show higher increases gross value added per worker. Finally, funds have a significantly higher effect on net business employment creation in regions with lower levels of perceived corruption, although this is not necessarily conductive to higher levels of labour productivity in those regions.

The aim of the paper is the general characterization of the process of the revitalization in Polish cities in the context of the EU cohesion policy on the example of Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship. The research has been conducted on the basis of data derived from the official websites of the Regional Operational Program of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship 2007-2013 and data obtained from the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development where all projects co-financed from the UE have been currently upgraded and monitored. From database, which contained more than six thousand projects implemented under the Cohesion Policy in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship, 222 projects related to the revitalization have been analyzed. In the paper we have demonstrated that the cohesion policy realized by the EU, has significantly affected the process of the revitalization in Polish cities. This impact can be considered in two ways. On the one hand, the cohesion policy caused the necessity of long-term and integrated planning of all actions required for the activation of problem areas in a city. On the other hand, it initiated instruments by which Polish cities had a real opportunity to start the thorough revitalization.