Analysis

Urban Development in the EU: 50 Projects supported by the European Regional Development Fund during the 2007-13 period

The Commission has published a study on European Regional Development Fund projects improving the standards of living and working in Europe's cities. 'Urban development in the EU' presents 50 projects which received ERDF investment and offers an information package for selected cities, with detailed information on projects and results there. The study gathers a range of good urban practice, and is a 'state of play' in how the cities have put local urban policies into action with ERDF investment from 2007-13. The cities highlighted reveal interesting ideas, solutions and cooperation or collaboration methods serving as inspiration for other urban areas and managing authorities.

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EU15 countries benefit from cohesion investments in Visegrad countries

EU cohesion funding for the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (ie Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland) has benefited the economies of the EU15 countries, according to research carried out for the Polish Ministry of Regional Development. The study found that EU cohesion funding had increased consumer, investment and intermediate demand in the V4 countries. This increased demand concerned to a large extent concerns goods and services from EU countries. €1 spent by EU15 countries resulted in 61 cents of additional exports to the V4 countries. The study also looked at the benefits in terms of research and development, innovation, environmental protection and transport.

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Measuring the impact of changing regulatory requirements to administrative cost and administrative burden of managing EU Structural Funds

A study "Measuring the impact of changing regulatory requirements to administrative cost and administrative burden of managing EU Structural Funds (ERDF and the Cohesion Fund)" commissioned by DG Regional Policy shows that there is considerable scope for reduction of administrative burden for beneficiaries under the Commission proposals for 2014-2020.  A reduction of 20% compared to the period 2007-2013 could be expected by implementing the simplifications proposed by the Commission.

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Study on migration and demographic trends in the outermost regions

The study is aimed at deepening the understanding, the knowledge and the projections of the demographic and migratory trends in the Outermost Regions. The report describes the major short and medium-term impacts of the demographic and migratory trends as well as their probable impact on the economic and social cohesion. Using the result of the analysis, the experts outline the main risks and the opportunities associated with these phenomena.
The research consisted in the analysis of data and literature as well as interviews of local stakeholders which took place during 2011.
Caveat: the independent consultant is responsible for the contents which do not bind the European Commission.

Study - Executive summary

Cohesion Policy and Sustainable Development(March 2012)

The purpose of this study was to examine how Cohesion Policy could contribute to managing the shift to the green economy and to contribute to the development of the framework for Cohesion Policy post-2013.

The study assessed the impact of cohesion policy investments 2007-2013 on the environment, and the way that sustainable development considerations have been integrated into planning, implementation and follow-up at the strategic, programming and policy level. This was done through a number of case studies, as well as analysis of the available data at EU level, in particular in relation to expenditure. It also made a number of recommendations on how the integration of sustainable development into cohesion policy could be improved.

The study was completed in December 2011 by a consortium led by the Institute for European Environmental Policy.

Final Report - Executive summary - Supporting paper 1 - A Literature Review - Supporting paper 2 - Cohesion Policy Performance - Supporting paper 3 - Role of non-Cohesion Policy Instruments - Supporting paper 4 - Case studies - Supporting paper 5 - Tools for Sustainable Development

Comparative study on the project selection process applied in Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013 in a number of Member States (February 2012)

Selecting projects best contributing to fulfilment of the programme objectives with minimum administrative resources is crucial for delivery of the Cohesion Policy. DG Regional Policy commissioned a study comparing the project selection process in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Slovenia in the fields of research and development, innovation in the small and medium enterprises and urban regeneration. The study identified a number of areas for improvement of the process, in particular for reduction of the administrative burden, and provides recommendations and good practice examples for setting-up the project selection structures and procedures for this and the next programming periods.

Study - Annex

The impact of single market on cohesion : Implications for Cohesion Policy, Growth, and Competitveness (December 2011)

The study assessed the impact of the Single Market on growth, competitiveness and employment in EU27, in particular as regards its role in generating disparities and convergence processes. It also analysed the institutional and policy linkages between cohesion policy, the Lisbon process and the Europe 2020 strategy. The study draws on a range of sources, including desk-based research, modeling work, econometric analysis as well as qualitative assessment through a number of case studies covering regions with different characteristics. The study draws conclusions concerning the alignment of cohesion policy with the Europe 2020 strategy, the integration of regions into the Single Market, the role of leading regions, the quality of public investment as well as the framework conditions for investments and addresses governance challenges.

Study - Annex

Cities of tomorrow - Challenges, visions, ways forward - (October 2011)

More than two thirds of the European population lives in urban areas. Cities are places where both problems emerge and solutions are found. They are fertile ground for science and technology, for culture and innovation, for individual and collective creativity, and for mitigating the impact of climate change. However, cities are also places where problems such as unemployment, segregation and poverty are concentrated. The ‘Cities of tomorrow’ reflection process will provide inspiration for policymakers and practitioners involved in urban development, whether at local, regional, national or European level.

Cities of tomorrow : Conferences and reflection process

Regional Challenges in the Perspective of 2020 – Phase 2: Deepening and Broadening the Analysis

The Commission Staff Working Document "Regions 2020 – An Assessment of Future Challenges for EU Regions" from November 2008 analysed the effect of global challenges on European regions. The paper led to a substantial discussion among stakeholders as well as the academic community, and the need for a follow-up analysis became clear. The adoption of the Europe 2020 Strategy in March 2010 reinforced the need for a follow-up study.

The follow-up study Regional Challenges in the Perspective of 2020 – Phase 2: Deepening and Broadening the Analysis" started in January 2010 and finalised in August 2011. The study was carried out by the OIR (Austrian Institute for spatial planning) and a number of other partners including Spatial Foresight, the Federal German Institute of Research on Buildings and Spatial Affairs, Pöyry and the Vienna University for Soil Sciences. The study uses an interdisciplinary approach which analyses the vulnerability of regions to different challenges. It also examines the capacity of regions to adapt to these challenges. The methodology was originally developed to analyse the effects of climate change by using biophysical indicators. This approach has been extended to other areas like economics, demography and energy. The examined challenges were globalisation, demographic change, climate change, secure, sustainable and competitive energy, social polarisation, and the economic and financial crisis. The analysis was carried out for European regions as well as for neighbouring countries.

Considering the variety of challenges, it becomes clear that a place based and regionally differentiated cohesion policy is required to reach a sustainable recovery path as envisaged in the Europe 2020 Strategy. Member States and regions would need to clearly capture, describe and communicate the regionally differentiated needs and vulnerabilities in order to provide tailor made answers to the actual challenges within the framework of Cohesion Policy.

Final Report :

Regional vulnerabilities through the crisis :

Annex :

Indices :

View challenges faced by European regions on a map

EU Cohesion policy in a global context

The main purpose of the study was to provide a better understanding of the specificities of EU cohesion policy in a global context through comparative research of regional development policies in a number of selected OECD countries (Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, UK and USA) and international financial institutions (EBRD, EIB and the World Bank). It involved the benchmarking of cohesion policy against other economic development policies, identifying the commonalities and differences in policies, and the lessons to be learned from these other policies. The study focused on two key headings. The first is performance management, including: the use of contracts and co-financing; the use of programmes, targets and guidelines; conditionalities (ex ante, ex post, structural, governance); incentives/sanctions (reputational, financial); and, the role of evaluation and reporting in policy feedback. The second is assurance, including: the scope of assurance systems, the operation of systems (e.g. division of responsibilities); and the role of audit. The study concluded with a number of policy recommendations for the future development of cohesion policy.

Final Report :

Quality of Government in EU Member States and regions

This report has analysed a wide range of governance indicators and shows that a significant number of EU Member States score poorly on all of these indicators. Poor governance undermines social and economic development and can reduce the impact of Cohesion Policy. For example, poor governance can hinder economic growth, damage the environment or reduce personal safety and well-being. The report concludes that four issues are particularly relevant for the EU: 1) corruption, 2) rule of law, 3) government effectiveness and 4) voice and accountability. This study is the first to measure the quality of government in the EU at the regional level. It is based on the largest multi-country, regional quality of government survey to date. This survey shows that several Member States are confronted with a large internal variation in the perceptions of quality of government. The report concludes with ten case studies which provide insight into how regional quality of government can be enhanced. This study was financed by the European Commission. Nevertheless, the study represents solely the views of its authors and cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the official position of the Commission.

Report part 1 - part 2 - Presentation

Lessons from shared management in cohesion, rural development and fisheries policies

The aim of this study is to offer a comparative perspective of the views of officials of the Commission Services concerning the systems and practices specific to the shared management system applied to structural policies, i.e., cohesion policy, rural development policy and fisheries policy. To achieve this objective, the study maps existing arrangements in the three policy areas concerned and explores how well the systems function on the basis of interviews with EC officials.

Final report - Annex

The Objective of Economic and Social Cohesion in the Economic Policies of Member States

This study identifies which are the most relevant policies of Member States for the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion enshrined in the Treaty of the European Union. It describes how such policies are designed and implemented with a view to determining how and to what extent they contribute to the achievement of these objectives. The study contains a main part which presents the main results for the whole EU and then a second part with a single country report per Member State.

Final Report : Part 1 - Part 2

Report on joint study on regional policies in China and EU

A study which compares aspects of regional policy in China with cohesion policy in the European Union – financed by the Commission under its EU-China Policy Dialogues Support Facility - has been carried out in 2008-2010. The study examines the regional policies of the European Union and China to assess their potential to speed the economic growth of regions which are lagging behind. The study is on practical aspects of policy-making and regional development. It concentrates, in particular on: the definition and economic classification of regions; the governance and co-ordination of regional policy; and the role of regional policy in improving competitiveness, sustainable development and urban and rural development. As illustrations, the study report describes examples of best practice in these subject areas in China and the EU.

• Less Poverty, More Employment: Helping the European Union to achieve its 2020 targets - A Study of the organisation of the European Union Cohesion Policy with special reference to anti-poverty policy in the People’s Republic of China
• EU–China Cooperative Research Program on Regional Policy : Research Report of the Chinese Expert Group

Regional governance in the context of globalisation: reviewing governance mechanisms and administrative costs

This is the first study to provide a systematic evidence-based survey of the administrative workload and costs for Member State public authorities of the implementation of the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund during the 2007-2013 period.

The study concluded that:

• an estimated 3-4% of total eligible expenditure is devoted to administration
• there are considerable variations in administrative costs and workload between programmes
• the highest proportion of administrative costs lies with the Managing Authorities
• there is a heavy workload associated with project selection and verification of deliverables.

Final report - Annex 1 - Annex 2

Study on the development of diagnoses and regional innovation strategies in the French regions under the ERDF Operational Programmes for the 2007 – 2013 programming period (July 2010)

The aim of this study was to analyse the development of diagnostics and of the Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS), and more particularly to examine: the process of developing and adapting the RIS in the regions, and the chosen methods of governance; - the main developments or reorientations in relation to the initial situation in 2007, and how the process and its constitutive elements may have contributed; the main conclusions drawn from the RIS exercise, particularly with a view to the mid-term review of the ERDF operational programmes.

Foreword - Summary - Synthesis - Regional Factsheets

The regional impact of technological change in 2020 (2010)

This study highlights the great diversity in development pathways and trajectories of innovation across European regions. A regional knowledge-based economy has multidimensional aspects. It includes a variety of knowledge activities and multiple interactions among a range of actors including universities, research institutes, enterprises, knowledge workers and institutions. The spatial patterns and trends for the different aspects of the knowledge-based economy vary significantly across Europe. Most aspects show convergence and generate catching-up processes, while some show divergence between European regions.

Synthesis Report

Regional Challenges in the Perspective of 2020 - Regional disparities and future challenges (December 2009)
The study broadens and deepens the analysis carried out in “Regions 2020”. The papers composing this study analyse the regional impacts of five key challenges that regions will face in the future, i.e. globalisation, demographic change, climate change, sustainable and competitive energy as well as social risks. Five thematic workshops were carried out with contributions from the World Bank and the Bertelsmann Foundation. From each of the workshops a background paper emerged and was then synthesised in the Synthesis report. The study contributes to defining two overall scenarios of regional disparities in the perspective of 2020 as well as introducing neighbourhood issues into the discussion on challenges.

Synthesis: - Background Paper on: New Social Risks - Background Paper on: Energy - Background Paper on: Demographic Challenge - Background Paper on: Globalisation - Background Paper on: Climate change

"Regions 2020" provides a first prospective analysis of the likely regional impact of four of the biggest challenges facing Europe: globalisation, demographic change, climate change, and the energy supply.

Using a series of indicators, the report maps out the degree of vulnerability of European regions to these challenges, and examines the potential disparities that these may generate across the EU.

The findings of the report, produced by the Commission's Directorate-General for Regional Policy, will feed into the reflection process on the future European Cohesion Policy.

Report: - (indices )
Presentation

Background documents : Demographic Challenges for European Regions - Climate change challenges for European regions - Globalisation challenge for European Regions