Projects

EPRC is coordinating a study for the European Commission aimed at enhancing the understanding of the planned and implemented use of Technical Assistance (TA) under EU Cohesion Policy programmes during the 2014-20 period. Given the important contribution of Technical Assistance to the successful implementation of Cohesion Policy, the study will provide a better understanding of the use of TA and present cases of TA-funded sustainable capacity building activities, particularly in the area of Human Resources Development.

From a policy perspective, the key issues are whether and how TA is being used to strengthen the administrative capacity of Member States for implementing Operational Programmes and projects. The project also seeks to understand whether this Technical Assistance investment is sustainable – whether TA is planned and monitored to ensure the strengthening of administrative capacity beyond the life of an OP.

The project is led by a core team comprising EPRC and Red2Red researchers, and involves also a team of National Experts in the Member States.

The project involves research on the contribution of Cohesion policy to citizens’ identification with the EU. Funded by Horizon 2020 and involving 10 research institutes and SMEs, the project provides new insights into the European identification of EU citizens and the effectiveness of strategies to communicate EU cohesion policy to citizens.

http://www.cohesify.eu/

The project involves mapping how integrated territorial approaches are being planned and implemented, gaining insights into progress and challenges. The research encompasses 800 integrated territorial strategies from across the EU, focusing on the factors influencing the way in which territorial strategies are set up and implemented and the effectiveness of the strategies.

The project is about promoting stakeholder engagement and public awareness for a participative governance of the European bioeconomy. Funded by Horizon 2020, it BioSTEP aims to engage citizens and various stakeholder groups in discussions about the future development of Europe’s bioeconomy. Its objective is to increase the overall awareness and understanding of the bioeconomy as well as its consequences and benefits by considering citizens' needs and concerns. In order to overcome the current lack of public knowledge on the bioeconomy, BioSTEP makes existing data on bio-based products and processes accessible to the general public and various stakeholder groups. In addition, BioSTEP involves identifying and disseminating best practices on the participatory development of national and regional bioeconomy strategies.

The project involved research on the development of an Arctic regional collaboration mechanism funded by the Northern Periphery Programme. The aim was to consider the need for improved collaboration across regional economic development programmes in the Arctic and how a collaboration mechanism can be optimally structured and delivered. In doing so, the project will critically assess the potential for synergies, the benefits for stakeholders of improved collaboration and options for systems/platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing and building.

The project, undertaken for the European Parliament REGI Committee, provided a comprehensive analysis and assessment of how Cohesion Policy objectives have been delivered through measures that involved the EIB Group. Specifically, it focused on: the role of EIB Group in the implementation of Cohesion Policy; the effectiveness of EIB activities in Cohesion Policy; accountability, transparency and visibility of EIB Group activities; relationships between EU institutions and EIB Group; and future expectations of the EIB Group.

The project, commissioned by the World Bank, examined the development, management and implementation of integrated sustainable urban development strategies.

The project, funded by an EIB University Research Scholarship, examines the differences in administrative capacity for implementing Cohesion policy across the EU, the factors that influence the administration of Cohesion policy - both internal and external to implementing bodies - and ways in which effective administrative capacity for Cohesion policy can be built and sustained.

The project involved research on the evolution and implementation of the strategic coherence of Cohesion policy in 2014-20. Based on documentary analysis and interviews with authorities in 11 Member States, the study concluded that there had been overall improvements compared to the previous period, but it also highlighted a series of EU and domestic challenges in ensuring a strategically coherent approach between different ESI Funds and with other EU policies.

The project involved preparatory research and the organisation of an international conference on regional cooperation in the Arctic. The research focussed on the development of a regional collaboration mechanism, and the conference brought together policy officials, programme managers and other stakeholders to discuss practical opportunities for working together on Arctic issues and the potential role of ETC and ENPI programmes.