Projects

The project involved a critical analysis of EU Cohesion policy reform perspectives for the post-2013 period. On the basis of a literature review and budgetary modelling, the study offers an assessment of the policy’s strengths and weaknesses, the main reform ideas, counter-positions and implications.

This project provided a review and assessment of the simplification measures in Cohesion policy in 2007-13. Simplification has been an ongoing feature of reform debates since 1988. The most recent simplification exercise responds to the economic crisis and involves measures for speeding up programme implementation. The measures have been at least partially effective, with some programmes playing a major role in dealing with the crisis, through accelerated spending or special instruments. The longer term focus of attention is on how the current, administratively complex management and control system can be simplified while maintaining assurance on the regularity of spending. The issues covered by this note were presented and discussed in the framework of the Workshop "Simplification in Cohesion Policy", held at the European Parliament on 21 June 2010.

The project involved research and knowledge exchange contributing to the Barca report. It examined reform options for Cohesion policy, assessing the effectiveness of the the policy to date and the development of conceptual and policy recommendations for the future of the policy in 2014-20.

The project involved research on the impact and added value of EU Cohesion policy in the period up to 2007 and assessed the financial and strategic shifts in Cohesion policy arising from the Council decision and Interinstitutional Agreement in 2005-06, with a view to identifying the key changes and implications for added value.

The project involved research on the reform of Cohesion policy, the implications for Spain and consideration of potential reform scenarios and options.

The project involved research on the potentials and needs of the ten Member States that joined the European Union in May 2004, as well as Bulgaria and Romania, in relation to Cohesion policy co-financing in 2007-2013, and specifically the future Convergence objective. The study drew on these analyses to develop separate conclusions and recommendations for each of these States as to the main future priorities for Cohesion policy expenditure

The project involved comparative research on the design and implementation of regional policies in Central and Eastern Europe, and the organisation of a conference to facilitate dialogue between regional policy-makers from old and new Member States, as well as Romania and Bulgaria, on the directions of regional development policies at European, national and sub-national levels.

The project, commissioned by IPI, the Italian agency for industrial promotion (Istituto per la Promozione Industriale), involved research on the innovative types of business aids in selected European regions. The project analysed selected aid schemes from a range of Member States with a view to assisting the development of innovative Italian aid schemes for 2007-13.

The project examined options for future regional development policy in Scotland. The specific aim of the project was to consider how regional development policy in Scotland could evolve in the context of past experience, the changing European policy environment and lessons from other parts of Europe.

This project involved research and policy advice for the Interreg IIIC project TouriSME - 'Tourism and SMEs for Sustainable and Balanced Development'. The study was undertaken on behalf of a partnership of business development organisations in four regions: North East England, Valencia, Limburg and Sachsen Anhalt. Two comparative studies were undertaken, focused on Business support services, and Exports/internationalisation of regional businesses. Each study aimed to benchmark relevant support services in each region, to allow relative strengths and weaknesses to be identified and highlight potential opportunities for the implementation of new approaches and joint concepts. The content of subsequent project activities will be established on the basis of the benchmark results.