Cohesion Policy in Slovenia Over the Last 20 Years

Abstract

Cohesion policy is recognised as a key financing instrument at the EU level to promote development with particular emphasis on those countries and regions that are lagging behind. There have been numerous studies looking into the role and rationale of cohesion policy at the EU level on the one hand and on its impact on both EU and national levels on the other (for overview refer to Wostner, 2009). Importance of the EU cohesion policy as regards its financial weight and consequences for the national and regional budgets and policy making in general however has been explored in less detail. This is the objective of this paper taking a long term perspective on a country case study. Slovenia participates in Cohesion policy and its predecessors for over 20 years, which appears to be a solid period to take a hindsight view. This is done both in qualitative terms as regards cohesion policy effects on the national policy making, as well as in terms of financial impact on development policy in Slovenia.