After more than a year of research, EPRC has successfully completed a major research project analysing the development challenges and policy priorities for the 10 New Member States and 2 Candidate Countries in the 2007-2013 period. Commissioned by DG REGIO of the European Commission, the aim of the study was to provide independent analyses of how EU Cohesion policy resources should be spent in the next period.
Working with teams of researchers in each of the 12 countries, the study led by Dr Sara Davies, Dr Irene McMaster and Professor John Bachtler of EPRC, examined the main investment needs and priorities for future Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes, as well as issues such as co-financing potential and institutional capacity. It is hoped that the results of the study will be published later in the year.