Two new research papers analysing developments in EU policy-making have just been published in the EPRC European Policy Research Paper series. Originally prepared for the EoRPA Regional Policy Consortium meeting in October 2006, the papers provide insights into the effect of EU policy reforms in Member States.
The first paper Much ado about nothing? Recent developments in EU competition policy and regional aid control, by Fiona Wishlade, examines the 2005 Regional Aid Guidelines and assesses how they have been implemented in the context of different Member States approaches to area designation.
The second paper New Budget, New Regulations, New Strategies: The 2006 Reform of EU Cohesion Policy, by John Bachtler, Carlos Mendez and Fiona Wishlade, assesses the implications of the 2006 Cohesion policy reform for eligibility and financial allocations to Member States and examines how countries are allocating funding at regional level and drawing up National Strategic Reference Frameworks. The papers are available here