EU Cohesion Policy Research Articles

EU Cohesion Policies and interregional inequalities in disruptive times

Despite the numerous contributions assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of Cohesion Policies, their role in stimulating growth and cohesion in different macroeconomic settings and in different business cycle periods remains highly debated. This article aims at contributing to this literature by investigating the link between Cohesion Policy, economic growth and interregional inequalities over periods of crisis and recovery. In particular, the article analyses whether Cohesion Policy is beneficial for the recovery of those regions mostly hit by the crisis and contributes to narrowing interregional gaps enhanced by the crisis. In addition, the paper analyses how the link between Cohesion Policy and interregional inequalities changes by investment axes, as it is the case of Research, Technology Development and Innovation funds, targeted to different goals. Based on an analysis covering all EU27 and UK NUTS2 regions in the period 2008–2019, the article confirms the multifaceted nexus between Cohesion Policy and interregional inequalities. It also raises warnings about the potential conflicts between its overarching goals and its multiple and expanding strategic objectives.

Europe vs Hong Kong partnership agreements: reversing trends

The comparison between EU cohesion policies on public works as a common good and Hong Kong’s policies on public-private participation to preserve and revitalise architectural heritage highlights cultural and operational differences. While Europe often adopts an inclusive approach, involving the communities mainly in the valorisation of public spaces, Hong Kong implements models more focused on public-private partnership to preserve the public real estate. Thus, the adaptive reuse of public works at the two different scales transforms public works into catalysts of prosperity for the community by preserving historical memory, but has a different impact on shared value generation, social cohesion enhancement, sustainable development promotion, and collective identity valorisation. The contribution analyses the two models (centrifugal and centripetal), focusing on objectives and implementation tools.

Cross-fertilisation between spatial planning and territorial cohesion: lessons from the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the literature on the territorial dimension of EU Cohesion Policy and spatial planning in EU Member States. It offers a perspective on these debates by focusing on the case study of the Czech Republic which exemplifies the group of countries being the main beneficiaries of Cohesion Policy. Building on interviews, document analyses and interactive workshops, the barriers and potentials for cross-fertilisation between Cohesion Policy and spatial planning are identified. Upon this background, concrete policies are recommended. Therefore, the paper goes a step further by explaining why the problem occurs and what can be done about it.

The Clash of the Policies: The Joint Effect of EU Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy on the Public Support for European Integration

AbstractA vital element of the European Union (EU) political system is the idea of further European integration. Whilst most existing works investigate the effects of the Cohesion Policy (CP), only a handful of studies consider the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on citizens' support for European integration. In this contribution, I argue that these two largest EU redistribution policies neutralise each other in their effects on the citizens' support for European integration: the CP improves public support due to its positively perceived redistributive nature and positive externalities, whilst the CAP decreases public support due to due to a limited target audience, somewhat elitarian distribution of resources and bureaucratic complexities. Using regional‐level CP and CAP data for 2017 and Eurobarometer surveys for 2018 and 2019, the empirical findings of multilevel regressions show that the CAP counteracts the positive effects of the CP on citizens' support for further European integration. The findings are robust to including a wide range of control variables, sample size change and alternative specifications of key independent variables. These findings also hint that policy evaluations should not disregard the differences between various policy instruments.

The implications of the EU cohesion policy instruments and cross-border cooperation projects on social entrepreneurship in Euroregions

The current paper investigates the implications of the EU Cohesion Policy instrument Interreg through the implementation of cross-border cooperation projects on social entrepreneurship. Cross-border cooperation projects are implemented in Euroregions and invest in new knowledge and innovative solutions in policy priorities spread over social, environmental, and economic domains. Policy priorities in social and environmental domains overlap fields of play where social entrepreneurs operate. We build on the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship and use a quantitative design to investigate the influence of EU-funded cross-border cooperation projects on the number of social enterprises in Luxembourg. We employed a rolling window analysis with ARIMA on a sample of 207 cross-border cooperation projects implemented between 2000 and 2020. We predicted social entrepreneurial activity in Euroregions in Luxembourg using investments through the EU Cohesion Policy in the social, environmental, and economic domains and identified a positive relationship in the social domain. The current study shows that investments in the social domain positively and significantly predict social entrepreneurial activity, supporting the critical role of the EU Cohesion Policy on social entrepreneurship. Our study discusses how social entrepreneurship can benefit from EU cross-border cooperation projects as recipients of potential knowledge spillovers.

Assessing the impacts of public policies towards environmental sustainability in the Centre NUTII of Portugal. The case of POSEUR (2014-2020)

The operational programme for Sustainability and Use of Resources (POSEUR 2014-2020) is the most powerful mechanism of EU Cohesion Policy to be implemented in Portugal concerning sustainable environmental development. The programme has a place-based approach that attends to the territorial characteristics of the Portuguese regions. This study focused its analysis on the POSEURS’ main impacts on the Portuguese Centre NUT II. With a mixed methodological approach, impact scores were produced for five environmental sustainability dimensions: i) low-emissions economy, ii) adaptation to climate change, iii) risk prevention and management, iv) environmental protection, and v) resource efficiency. The qualitative and quantitative data was collected through interviews, literature review, the POSEUR project database analysis and regional environmental indicators. The outcome of the analysis showed that technical and execution barriers contributed to the heterogeneity of the results obtained in the five selected dimensions. An overall balance points out the low positive impact scores promoting small regional changes in environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, elaborating spatial plans for the municipalities and regions turned the adaptation to climate change into a highly positive impact dimension.

Effects of the Disbursement of EU Cohesion Policy 2014–2020 Funds on Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings in Poland and Germany

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings (IEEBs) is crucial to achieving the European Union’s ambitious climate and energy goals. To channel these efforts, new policies, legislation, sources of funding, mechanisms for distributing funds, programs, and support tools are being introduced. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effects of the disbursement of EU Cohesion Policy 2014–2020 funds on IEEBs in Poland and Germany, filling the research gap regarding the regional differentiation of investments, beneficiaries, and the spatial distribution of subsidies and projects. An analysis was made of 7818 projects on IEEBs implemented under regional operational programs from European Regional Development Funds under Thematic Objective 4. This research was conducted for two main variables: (1) beneficiaries (8 categories) and (2) investments (8 categories). Based on this division, using a cluster analysis through the use of Ward’s agglomerative hierarchical clustering method, groupings were made in relation to beneficiaries (6 groups) and investments (6 group). The results allowed us to identify regional differences and similarities in the approach to the disbursement of funds on IEEBs, to indicate the main beneficiaries, to highlight trends in this regard, to demonstrate the impact of changes in territorial affiliation on investment targeting, and, furthermore, to capture the variation in the sophistication of the implementation of EU IEEB-related policies and legislation. The results provide a well-documented voice in the discussion of the effects of distributing EU funds for IEEBs in the regions of Poland and Germany and provide a basis for further comparative research.

Asymmetric effects of EU cohesion policy on EU regional growth: The role of macroeconomic uncertainty

Cohesion policy and the EU funds have been key elements for territorial integration in Europe. Evidence shows that EU funds support the growth performance of regions. However, less has been discussed about the potential impact of macroeconomic uncertainty on the effectiveness of EU funds. Our analyses confirm that EU funds are important in understanding regional economic growth differences. However, the extent of macroeconomic uncertainty decreases the effectiveness of the EU funds. Our results are robust in including local controls, non-linearity of the EU funds’ effect, different EU fund categories, and regional heterogeneity in the EU.

What are the impacts of Cohesion Policy on the trade-off between employment and productivity?

ABSTRACT This paper examines the heterogeneous effectiveness of European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy in fostering regional growth, considering the potential trade-off between productivity improvement and job creation. By analysing the impact of European Structural and Investment Funds on regional development at the NUTS-2 level, the study contributes to the literature on productivity and employment trade-offs at the regional level. A novel empirical approach, based on a multi-input multi-output transformation function, is employed to explore the differing impacts of EU Cohesion Policy on gross domestic product (GDP) per employee and employment rate. The findings suggest that there exists heterogeneity (across different funds and regions) in the effects of Cohesion Policy on the trade-off between employment and productivity. Striking a balance between productivity-boosting investments and job creation is crucial in ensuring sustainable economic development and social inclusion and in reducing regional disparities.

Demand-pull and technology-push environmental innovation: a policy mix analysis on EU ETS and EU Cohesion Policy

ABSTRACT Existing literature on the sustainability transition towards a low-carbon economy provides conceptual frameworks for designing combinations of policy interventions but lacks empirical evidence regarding their application. This paper aims to test whether a mix of policy instruments represents a potential valid solution to manage carbon abatement effectively. We refer to the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) as an example of demand-pull environmental policy, while we include the Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCFs) and the Horizon 2020 funds as examples of technology-push policies. Through the application of a panel event study, we find that the EU ETS generates a positive impact on environmental patent applications in the light manufacturing sector during the period 2013–2020, while EU ETS participation and financial support contribute to environmental innovation and CO2 emission reduction in the energy sector. Hence, those sectors where market dynamics allow avoidance of complete internalization of the carbon price may benefit from financial support to re-direct the technological change towards the sustainability transition. We demonstrate that the analysed policy mix contributed to a reduction of about 2.2% of total emissions produced by energy firms in the EU ETS during Phase III, which is in line with EU climate targets. Overall, our work may support policymakers in understanding the relevant factors that affect the impact of the policy mix on the environmental transition.

The Past, Present, and Future of Cross-Border Cooperation between Municipalities in the South Bohemian Region: A Case Study

The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of matters of cross-border cooperation, with the main emphasis on the typology and development of structures supporting cross-border cooperation in a selected region of the Czech Republic (South Bohemian Region). The study focuses on the analysis of changes in the methods and ways of cooperation of municipalities in the programming periods 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 (Euroregions, cross-border impulse centers, European territorial cooperation groups, partner and friendly cities, etc.). The research not only analyzes the actual development of cooperation between municipalities in the region studied, but also identifies the prerequisites of and barriers to cross-border cooperation. The data obtained show a significant decrease in the interest of municipalities in cross-border cooperation within the conditions of the Czech Republic in recent years. The current situation with regard to the existence and development of cross-border cooperation in 2024 is not very satisfactory, although it is paradoxically an area strongly supported by the EU Cohesion Policy. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of cross-border cooperation in the South Bohemian Region. A thorough review of existing literature on cross-border cooperation and related policies was conducted to establish a theoretical framework. The practical part of the study is based on field research carried out by the author in 2007–2013 and 2014–2020. This research examined the level of cooperation between the 623 municipalities in the South Bohemian Region (in 2016, there were 624 municipalities in the region). In the case of cross-border impulse centers, the input data were represented by e-mail and telephone inquiries to representatives of individual municipalities and the websites of Euroregions. To conduct a comprehensive study on cross-border cooperation between municipalities in the South Bohemian Region, logical and scientific methods were used. Universal methods of logic ensured the correctness and orderliness of the thought process, with abstraction identifying key elements. Synthesis was used to divide the study into parts, analyze them in detail, and integrate them into a comprehensive analysis. Scientific methods included analysis to examine the current status and frameworks of cross-border cooperation and comparison to identify similarities or differences between the Czech Republic and neighboring countries.

European funds and the dynamics of economic growth among EU regions: A spatial modelling approach

Contemporary development policy concentrates predominantly on reducing noticeable economic differences in a spatial system, and an important role in this respect is played by EU Cohesion Policy. Owing to the considerable scale of financial exposure of Cohesion Policy, the assessment of effectiveness of the implemented measures and their greater reliance on evidence are of major significance. Despite numerous attempts to empirically verify the effects of EU funds spending, the problem remains unresolved, and the results of recent studies lead frequently to ambiguous conclusions. The article aims to verify the β-convergence process in EU regions in the years 2007–2015 allowing for the impact of the received EU funds and the spatial effects determining economic growth. In the research, use was made of a covergence approach consisting in the regression modelling of per capita GDP growth. Spatial econometrics methods were applied, by adding variables determining spatial interactions that can influence the economic growth rate to the specification of the estimated models. The estimated econometric models show that in the years 2007–2015 EU funds positively affected economic growth. At the same time, the process of reducing economic disparities between EU regions was observed. Moreover, the existence of spatial effects for a dependent variable was confirmed. The results also show that the value of the EU funds received in the surrounding area generally did not translate into the dynamics of growth in a given location. The research presented is one of the few in which spatial interaction was verified by using weights matrices based on contiguity, distance, flows and affiliation.

Insights into the spatial distribution of global, national, and subnational greenhouse gas emissions in the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR v8.0)

Abstract. To mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions, it is of utmost importance to understand where emissions occur. In the real world, atmospheric pollutants are produced by various human activities from point sources (e.g. power plants and industrial facilities) but also from diffuse sources (e.g. residential activities and agriculture). However, as tracking all these single sources of emissions is practically impossible, emission inventories are typically compiled using national-level statistics by sector, which are then downscaled at the grid-cell level using spatial information. In this work, we develop high-spatial-resolution proxies for use in downscaling the national emission totals for all world countries provided by the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR). In particular, in this paper, we present the latest EDGAR v8.0 GHG, which provides readily available emission data at different levels of spatial granularity, obtained from a consistently developed GHG emission database. This has been achieved through the improvement and development of high-resolution spatial proxies that allow for a more precise allocation of emissions over the globe. A key novelty of this work is the potential to analyse subnational GHG emissions over the European territory and also over the United States, China, India, and other high-emitting countries. These data not only meet the needs of atmospheric modellers but can also inform policymakers working in the field of climate change mitigation. For example, the EDGAR GHG emissions at the NUTS 2 level (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2) over Europe contribute to the development of EU cohesion policies, identifying the progress of each region towards achieving the carbon neutrality target and providing insights into the highest-emitting sectors. The data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.2905/b54d8149-2864-4fb9-96b9-5fd3a020c224 specifically for EDGAR v8.0 (Crippa et al., 2023a) and https://doi.org/10.2905/D67EEDA8-C03E-4421-95D0-0ADC460B9658 for the subnational dataset (Crippa et al., 2023b).

Coordinative Europeanization as a response to crisis: what lessons from the RRF for future EU cohesion policy?

AbstractA considerable amount of literature has been devoted to analysing the genesis, rationale and modus operandi of the NGEU and RRF. However, not much attention has been paid to the practical implications of the RRF, and potential lesson-drawing, for established EU policies. EU cohesion policy is particularly salient in this respect, given the RRF’s general objective of contributing to economic, social and territorial cohesion and the current discussions about the RRF serving as a model for future cohesion policy, to improve the policy’s effectiveness, rationalise spending in view of future enlargements and better tie EU funding with reforms. Starting with a comparison between the delivery arrangements of EU cohesion policy and of the RRF, the study identifies and tests four expectations about their timing and absorption, possible displacement effects, administrative burden, and the impacts to be achieved, and tackles the following research questions: is it realistic to expect the RRF and cohesion policy to work synergistically, given the diversity in their delivery arrangements? Is the RRF proving sufficiently effective and simple, to represent a good model for future EU cohesion policy? Could the coordinative Europeanization that is typical of the RRF be a viable decision-making and implementation mode beyond emergency?

An Overview of Implementation of EU Funds in the 2014-2020 Period of Cohesion Policy

Abstract This article explores the implementation of EU funds in the 2014-2020 period of the Cohesion Policy, providing a broad perspective on how Member States have managed and applied these resources to reduce economic and social disparities. In a context where EU cohesion policy has adapted to economic and social changes, we analyse its evolution, management structures and the impact of investments on regional development. Through a review of the literature, we examine how researchers have approached this theme, from implementation structures to the concrete impact on communities. This article also aims to provide an insight into the lessons learnt over the period and explore their implications for future EU cohesion policies.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНИХ ЗАСАД ЄВРОІНТЕГРАЦІЇ ТА ФІНАНСОВО-ПРАВОВІ МЕХАНІЗМИ ПРИСКОРЕННЯ ВСТУПУ УКРАЇНИ В ЄС

Introduction. Since 2022, Ukraine has been following the path of “classical accession” to the EU, which involves the compliance with the Copenhagen criteria and adoption of the common EU legislation (acquis) in 33 policy areas/ chapters. But advancement withing this scenario is a long and resource-intensive process. Problem Statement. The urgent task is to find an optimal model of joining the EU with coherence to a reasonable time frame of this course, achieving high results of European integration and identification of the sources of funding for carrying out reforms and overcoming the consequences of the war after reducing the potential of the Ukraine Facility. Purpose - identification of the current financial and legal problems of the European integration process for Ukraine, generalization of the methodological pillars of the concept of staged accession to the EU as a more progressive version over the classic accession model, design of the policy proposals for updating monitoring tools and financial incentives for progressing across the subsequent stages towards the EU membership. Methods. General scientific and special methods are applied: reviews of theoretical sources, advisory and research papers, analysis of statistical data and legal documents, historical method, logical method, methods of comparison and synthesis. Results. The article summarizes the methodological pillars of the concept of staged accession to the EU, systematizes the legal mechanisms of negotiations and obtaining EU membership, shows the financial aspects of the European integration process, including access to the EU cohesion funds, and elaborates practically important proposals for the activity of the EU institutions and national bodies as to the operationalization of the model of staged accession. Conclusions. The staged accession model is the most holistic and logically structured concept that can evolve a predictable progress towards the EU membership. The model should be based on the European Commission's quantitative assessments of countries' preparedness for the membership within the framework of negotiating clusters and chapters. A system of performance indicators is also required that will record progress of the candidate countries across stages and will set the ground for disbursements from the EU funds in line with specified ratios. Since 2028, the new EU medium-term fiscal framework should provide for the formation of new funds to finance the recovery of Ukraine's economy and the application of the EU's cohesion policy towards Ukraine.

Administrative traditions and the role of conditionality for governance reforms: evidence from the EU regional innovation policy

This study examines how governments from different administrative traditions reformed their innovation policy governance following the adoption of the Smart Specialisation approach of EU cohesion policy for the 2014–2020 funding period. Based on four case studies, it argues that different administrative settings played a role in the uptake of intended governance reforms and that thematic ex ante conditionalities were not sufficient to guarantee substantial change in the absence of continuing political and bureaucratic support. The analysis supports the idea that governments and administrations which were already better aligned with the Smart Specialisation logic may have had limited incentive to update their governance structures, while those less aligned with it appeared sincerely motivated to overhaul existing arrangements, yet without proving capable of sustaining the desired changes.

The evolution of regional policy in Switzerland: From a growth oriented to a challenge-led policy?

Switzerland is the only central European country that is not a member of the EU. While the country engages in several bilateral treaties and programs, its regional policy neither follow the EU Cohesion Policy framework nor do they explicitly adopt concepts such as the smart specialization strategy. In this In perspective paper, we explore the evolution of Swiss regional policy within the broader context of shifting paradigms in regional development. While much attention has been given to regional policies within the European Union, there is a notable gap in scholarly analysis concerning Switzerland’s unique approach, particularly in relation to contemporary societal challenges and regional policy debates. This paper seeks to fill that gap by providing a comprehensive examination of Switzerland’s regional policy evolution, which has been developed independently of EU influence.

Prospective assessment of functional and clinical results of surgical patellar stabilization in rural and urban populations. Equal chance to success?

Patella dislocation represents 3.3% of all knee injuries often leading to persistent instability. Medial patello-femoral ligament(MPFL) reconstruction is the standard method of treatment in the patellar instability. Rehabilitation after MPFL-R is a long and demanding procedure. The hypothesis presented reflects the idea that despite relatively good access to hospital care and surgical options, the post-operative rehabilitation care system is still inferior in rural areas versus the one offered in major cities and towns. Between January 2015 - January 2018, 47 patients met the study inclusion criteria, diagnosed and operated on due to patellar instability. 8 patients were lost for full follow-up. Finally, 39 patients were included, divided into two groups - group A (19 from cities), group B (20 from rural area). Prospective KOOS and Kujala scales assessments were conducted: preoperative, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Knee isokinetic muscle strength was measured at 3 stages; prior to surgery, 6 and 12 months after reconstruction. All patients showed significant improvement measured in the KOOS and Kujala scales after the procedure, compared to the pre-operational results. Despite equal clinical improvement, patients from Group A(city) achieved better functional outcomes as presented in the results of knee extensor functional tests using a Biodex dynamometer. Rehabilitation after MPFL reconstruction improves muscle strength and clinical outcome. Patients from rural areas had inferior functional results in comparison to the patients from major cities, even 12 months after surgical patella stabilization. Despite the development of roads and transport according to the EU cohesion policy, there are still differences in rehabilitation results between rural and city areas.

A methodological path to foster inner peripheries’ sustainable and resilient futures: A research experience from Southern Italy

The future of inner peripheries, suffering a demographic decline (ESPON, 2017) that threatens the survival of their relevant environmental and cultural heritage, represents an important challenge for the whole of Europe. The urgency to address some long-lasting problems affecting inner peripheries (depopulation, population ageing, limited accessibility, economic marginality) has been recognized and partially addressed through European and national strategies. However, some crucial issues must be still addressed: reversing the rhetoric of inner peripheries as marginal areas, by focusing on their potential; strengthening communities’ engagement in shaping their own future; better addressing the complex urban-rural relationships. The RI.P.R.O.VA.RE. Project11RI.P.R.O.VA.RE. is the acronym of “Riabitare i Paesi. Strategie Operative per la valorizzazione e la Resilienza delle Aree Interne” (Re-inhabiting Villages. Operational strategies for the enhancement and resilience of inner areas). developed a three-step methodological path to trigger development processes based on a multidisciplinary and multiscale approach and the engagement of local communities in co-designing visions and strategies for a resilient and sustainable development. The proposed methodological path, tested on some areas in South Italy, can be easily replicated in other European contexts that, according to the EU cohesion policy 2021–2027, aim at reducing territorial and socio-economic imbalances to foster sustainable development.