In the context of the reform debate on the future of Structural Funds at UK and European levels, EPRC has published a report examining the scenarios and policy options currently being considered and identifing the issues for Scotland.
Funded by the Scottish Economic Policy Network (Scotecon), the report analyses the history of Structural Fund spending in Scotland and, on the basis of a survey of economic development organisations, examines the impact of a partial or total loss of Structural Funds.
The report also considers the different policy questions and issues facing regional development policy-makers and practitioners in Scotland as they engage in the reform debate.
The report has been well-received by politicians and regional development practitioners. The Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Peter Peacock, commended the report as being a "major contribution to an important debate, which should be read by all those concerned with the future of Structural Funds in Scotland".
The report has also been discussed at meetings of local authority convenors and chief executives from the Highlands & Islands and Western Scotland, and at CoSLA, the European Structural Funds Forum and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. A full copy of the report "EU Enlargement and the Reform of the Structural Funds: The Implications for Scotland" by John Bachtler, with Francois Josserand and Rona Michie.