EPRC presentation at 4th Annual EDAS Conference

John Bachtler presented an overview of regional development in Europe beyond 2006 at the annual EDAS conference held on 16 September at the SAS Radisson in Glasgow. The focus of the conference was on the key priority areas - Growing Businesses, Global Connections and Learning and Skills - all involved in 'Making Scotland Smart and Successful'. EDAS, a professional association for economic development in Scotland, has a membership which comprises a broad cross-section of individuals and organisations from public, private and not-for-profit sectors, all with a vested interest in the Scottish economy and its development. <p> In his presentation, John identified the changes to regional development policy in Scotland resulting from EU Enlargement. These included: the likely decrease of Structural Fund resources after 2006 and the implications for the spatial coverage and level of future spending on economic development - especially at the local level; reforms to EU competition policy control of regional aid which will affect the Assisted Areas map and the future of Regional Selective Assistance and other business support measures; although there may be more flexibility for SME support, there will be a prohibition on investment support for larger firms; and, the reform of the CAP which makes provision for decoupling subsidies from production and transferring funding to rural development expenditure, will have implications for Scotland's rural areas.