A new blog by John Bachtler examines the paradox facing Cohesion policy: there is more evidence than ever before on the added value of the policy, but few people seem to be listening, either in the Commission or the Member States.
The key challenge facing Cohesion policy has traditionally been to justify the added value and effectiveness of the policy. Many of these criticisms have been addressed in the 2013 reform of the policy with a new results orientation, performance framework, ex ante conditionalities, thematic concentration and macro-economic conditionalities.
However, it is not clear that the major shift in the policy has been recognised or appreciated within the Commission or among the finance ministries of Member States.
The blog draws on work being done under a Horizon 2020 project on the Cohesion policy and European identification (COHESIFY), led by EPRC with partners from throughout Europe.
