EPRC has conducted a literature review of EU Cohesion policy as part of the UK Government's 'Balance of Competences Review' . Launched in 2012, the Review is "an audit of what the EU does and how it affects the UK" undertaken through 32 individual reports, each covering a specific area of EU competence.
The review of EU Cohesion policy (European Structural and Investment Funds) was launched by the UK Department of Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) with a consultation in Autumn 2013 and completed in July 2014. As a contribution to the review, EPRC was commissioned by BIS to undertake a study assessing the evidence on EU Cohesion policy concerning whether and to what extent the objectives of the policy have been met, and whether the Funds delivered value for money. The study also considered EU infrastructure spend that might contribute to the broad aim of cohesion, specifically Trans-European Networks.
The EPRC study, drafted by Dr Laura Polverari and Professor John Bachtler, together with EPRC colleagues, can be downloaded here.