Professor John Bachtler provided a Europe-wide and retrospective assessment of lessons from the implementation of the Structural Funds at a recent conference in Swansea. The 'Best Practice Conference' was organised by the Welsh European Funding Office on 7 May to highlight Wales' experience of using the Funds and to share best practice.
John Bachtler presented a paper entitled '15 Years of Structural Fund Programming: What Have We Learnt?' which examined the differences among EU Member States in managing and implementing the Funds, the changes that have taken place over time and the different dimensions of the 'added value' of EU cohesion policy.