Rethinking regional policy at national and European levels: EPRC hosts 33rd European regional policy conference

The reappraisal of regional policies against the backdrop of the crisis and the forthcoming reforms of EU policies were among the key themes of the 33rd Conference of the European Regional Policy Research Consortium http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/eorpa/default.cfm EoRPA held at Ross Priory, Loch Lomondside, on 7-9 October 2012. The Conference, chaired by John Bachtler, brought together senior regional policymakers from across Europe to debate the current state of regional policy, EU Competition policy control of State aid, and the reform of EU Cohesion policy. Dr Dirk Ahner, former Director General of DG Regio was the Guest Speaker and reflected on the reform of Cohesion policy and the role of the European Commission. The Conference sessions were based on research reports and presentations prepared by EPRC, following research conducted in 29 European countries during 2012. By way of introduction, Dr Sara Davies gave an assessment of the recent evolution of regional and local problems and the challenges facing policymakers. This was followed by the presentation of a typology of regional policy responses and an assessment of how the management and implementation of policy is changing, given by Frederike Gross. Rona Michie provided a review of the use of 'new' financial instruments (equity, loans, guarantees) in countering the problems of access to finance in disadvantaged regions. Shifting the focus of the debate, two papers were presented on policy reforms at EU level, first on the subject of prospective changes to the EU Regional Aid Guidelines by Fiona Wishlade, and then an assessment of reforms to EU Cohesion policy in the 2014-2020 period by Carlos Mendez. Managed by EPRC, EoRPA is a research programme funded by government departments from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.