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Journal ArticleDOI

Cohesion or confusion: a policy searching for objectives

15 Jan 2010-Journal of European Integration (Routledge)-Vol. 32, Iss: 1, pp 77-96
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the definition of cohesion and how cohesion policy has evolved in the EU and then look at the impact of cohesion policy as a process in European integration.
Abstract: Cohesion is an important EU policy domain that was originally primarily about regional development, but which has since acquired wider objectives. This article examines the definition of cohesion and how cohesion policy has evolved in the EU. It then looks at the impact of cohesion policy as a process in European integration, before focusing on possible reforms of cohesion policy. Five main dimensions of reform explored are the underlying remit of the policy, whether it should be retained in richer member states and regions, the linkages between innovation and cohesion, legitimacy issues and the economic governance role of cohesion policy. The article concludes that new thinking is needed to deal with the many unresolved issues around the future of cohesion policy.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the nature, rationale, and logic of the reforms to EU Cohesion Policy, focusing on the concept of smart specialization and the use of this concept to help facilitate a results-oriented policy agenda.
Abstract: The paper examines the nature, rationale, and logic of the reforms to EU Cohesion Policy. A particular focus of the paper is on the concept of smart specialization and the use of this concept to help facilitate a results-oriented policy agenda. On the one hand, the arguments underpinning the reforms in part relate to modern thinking regarding the role of industrial policy. On the other hand, they also partly relate to advances in our understanding of the relationships between economic geography, technology, and institutions. At the same time, the specific features of the EU context also heavily influence the nature and logic of the changes, whereby legal and institutional matters linking Cohesion Policy to other EU policies all play an important role.

112 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Mar 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the authors monitor progress towards the European Research Area (ERA) by identifying the evolution of separation effects influencing FP collaboration intensities between 255 European regions over the period 1999-2006.
Abstract: One of the main goals of the European Research Area (ERA) concept is to improve integration of the European research system. The main policy instrument in this context is the European Framework Programme (FP) supporting pre-competitive collaborative Research and Development (R&D). The objective of this study is to monitor progress towards ERA by identifying the evolution of separation effects influencing FP collaboration intensities between 255 European regions over the period 1999–2006. We employ spatial interaction models accounting for spatial autocorrelation by using spatial filtering methods. The results show that geographical distance and country border effects gradually decrease, and point to the contribution of the FPs to the realization of ERA. Resumen Uno de los objetivos principales del concepto de Espacio Europeo de Investigacion (EEI) es la mejora de la integracion del sistema de investigacion europeo. El principal instrumento politico en este contexto es el Programa Marco europeo (PM) de apoyo a la Investigacion y Desarrollo (I+D) para la colaboracion precompetitiva. El objetivo de este estudio es dar seguimiento al avance hacia el EEI mediante la identificacion de la evolucion de los efectos de separacion que influyen en las intensidades de colaboracion del PM entre las 255 regiones europeas en el periodo 1999-2006. Para lograrlo se emplearon modelos de interaccion espacial que representan la autocorrelacion espacial mediante el uso de metodos espaciales de filtrado. Los resultados muestran que la distancia geografica y los efectos de frontera de los paises disminuyen gradualmente, y destacan la contribucion de los programas marco en cuanto al logro del EEI.

108 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate whether existing scientific collaborations between European Union (EU) subnational regions are conducive for acquiring FP funding, and whether FP funding stimulates subsequent co-publication activity between pairs of EU regions.
Abstract: The Framework Programmes (FPs) funded by the European Commission support transnational research collaborations in order to make the European Research Area more competitive. Some have raised concerns that the FPs compromise the cohesion policies of the European Commission aimed at reducing income disparities between European regions. We investigate whether existing scientific collaborations between European Union (EU) subnational regions-as captured by co-authored publications-are conducive for acquiring FP funding, and whether FP funding, in turn, stimulates subsequent co-publication activity between pairs of EU regions. Our results indicate that previous co-publication activity only has a minor effect on being funded. We also find that the effect of funding on co-publication activity is especially significant for regional pairs that did not intensively co-publish before participation. The results suggest that the returns to FP funding are highest when involving scientifically lagging regions. In this respect, the current FP policy is in line with cohesion policy.

101 citations


Cites background from "Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..."

  • ...From its inception there has been much concern that the policy objectives pursued as part of the Lisbon strategy would compromise the cohesion objective of the European Union (Sharp 1998; Hoekman et al. 2009; Begg 2010)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the role and use of discourse as a means of affecting EU cohesion policy reform is examined, and a discursive shift is traced to a place-based narrative, which sought to relegitimize and reconnect the policy with its foundational principles during the post-2013 policy review.
Abstract: This article examines the role and use of discourse as a means of affecting EU cohesion policy reform. A discursive shift is traced to a place-based narrative, which sought to re-legitimize and reconnect the policy with its foundational principles during the post-2013 policy review. It is argued that the impact of the narrative on the Commission's proposals has been only partially effective owing to deep-rooted ideational, interest-driven and organizational resistance and tensions relating to the policy's objectives, governance and relationship with Europe 2020. Implications are drawn for ideational analysis in the EU.

82 citations


Cites background from "Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..."

  • ...However, throughout the 1990s and 2000s the policy and its principles have been threatened by a neoliberal agenda, shifting EU priorities, policy failings and national assertiveness (Allen 2005; Begg 2010; Hooghe 1998; Hooghe and Marks 2001)....

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  • ...…goals have trumped the social and territorial dimensions owing to the Lisbon agenda’s emphasis on global competitiveness, encouraging a ‘misconceived’ and ‘overly narrow’ focus on innovation (Begg 2010: 92) and diverting support from traditional enterprise sectors (Bradley and Untiedt 2012)....

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  • ...More fundamentally, the Lisbonization of cohesion policy has led to charges of goal congestion and confusion (Begg 2010)....

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  • ...The scholarly literature predicted a gradual erosion of the policy’s foundational principles owing to an increasingly dominant neoliberal agenda, budgetary pressures, shifting EU priorities, policy failings and national assertiveness (Allen 2005; Begg 2010; Hooghe 1998; Hooghe and Marks 2001)....

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  • ...These tensions are not new (Begg 2010), but have been exacerbated by the increasing dominance of a master narrative on Europe 2020, reinforced economic governance and the realpolitik of the Budgetary Review in the context of the crisis....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors trace the emergence of a new "experimentalist governance architecture" in EU Cohesion policy and assesses its effectiveness, which is characterized by a hybrid mix of soft and hard new modes of governance.
Abstract: This article traces the emergence of a new “experimentalist governance architecture” in EU Cohesion policy and assesses its effectiveness. Following trends in other EU policy areas, the core features of the architecture are the joint setting of objectives between EU institutions and the Member States, (semi-)autonomous implementation by the Member States and regions, the use of performance reporting and peer review mechanisms at the EU level and the periodic revision of policy objectives. The new architecture—characterized by a hybrid mix of soft and hard new modes of governance—has been instrumental in driving policy and governance change in the 2007–2013 strategies and delivery arrangements, although a direct and exclusive “EU-driven effect” is not always easy to discern. More fundamentally, the effects on mutual learning have so far been weak and are unlikely to improve unless a more structured and robust assessment and peer review process is introduced.

68 citations


Cites background from "Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..."

  • ...…the popularization of the concept of multi-level governance (Marks, 1993), while the most recent 2006 reform illustrates the policy’s dextrous adaptability to the governance challenges of enlargement and especially the EU’s Lisbon agenda (Bachtler & Mendez, 2007a; Baun & Marek, 2009; Begg, 2010a)....

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  • ...From a governance perspective, political-economy theories are equally unclear on the optimal assignment of policy competences between the EU and Member State levels (Begg, 2010b)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the sovereignty of individual states is diluted in the European arena by collective decision-making and by supranational institutions, and that European states are losing their grip on the mediation of domestic interest representation in international relations.
Abstract: This article takes initial steps in evaluating contending models of EU governance. We argue that the sovereignty of individual states is diluted in the European arena by collective decision-making and by supranational institutions. In addition, European states are losing their grip on the mediation of domestic interest representation in international relations. We make this argument along two tracks. First, we analyse the conditions under which central state executives may lose their grip on power. Next, we divide up the policy process into stages and specify which institutional rules may induce various actors to deepen EU policy-making.

1,290 citations


"Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..." refers background in this paper

  • ...The core of the debate is whether there is a three-way division of policy making between the EU, national and subnational authorities (Marks, Hooghe, and Blank 1996) or whether the key decision-making power resides largely with the member states (Bache 2007)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In some ways this problem of fast and slow growing regions has not led to the same kind of inequalities in regional standards of living, in culture or in social structure, in the case of Britain as in some other countries such as Italy, the United States or France as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In Britain, as in other countries, we have become acutely aware in recent years of the existence of a ‘regional’ problem—the problem, that is, of different regions growing at uneven rates; with some regions developing relatively fast and others tending to be left behind. In some ways this problem of fast and slow growing regions has not led to the same kind of inequalities in regional standards of living, in culture or in social structure, in the case of Britain as in some other countries—such as Italy, the United States or France. And in general, the problem of regional inequalities within countries is not nearly so acute as that between the rich and poor countries of the world—with differences in living standards in the ratio of 20:1, or even 50:1, as between the so-called ‘advanced’ countries and the ‘developing’ countries. Yet, as investigations by Kuznets and others have shown, the tremendous differences that now divide the rich and poor nations are comparatively recent in origin. They are the cumulative result of persistent differences in growth rates that went on over periods that may appear long in terms of a life-span, but which are relatively short in terms of recorded human history—not more than a few centuries, in fact. Two hundred, or two-hundred-and-fifty years ago, the differences in living standards, or in the ‘stage’ of both economic and cultural development of different countries, or parts of the globe, were very much smaller than they are today.

1,097 citations


"Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…controversial since it invites a dependency culture in the less-favoured areas, implies the possible wasting of assets in such regions, and can also result in spatial imbalances that have damaging macro-economic consequences, as pointed out by Kaldor (1970) in making the case for regional policy....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Boldrin and Canova as mentioned in this paper investigated the role of regional and structural policies in the large income disparities across the regions of the EU15 and concluded that such policies serve mostly a redistributional purpose, motivated by the nature of the political equilibria upon which the European Union is built.
Abstract: Europe's regions Income disparities and regional policies In this paper we take a critical look at current European regional policies. First, we document the motivation for such policies, that is, the large income disparities across the regions of the EU15. Large disparities are certainly present. Second, we illustrate the various instruments adopted and discuss their underpinnings in established economic theories. Next, we look at available data, searching for three kinds of evidence: (1) if disparities are either growing or decreasing, we conclude they are neither; (2) which are the major factors explaining such disparities and, in particular, if they are the factors predicted by the economic models adopted by the Commission to justify current policies, we conclude this is most certainly not the case; (3) if there are clear signs that EU policies, as opposed to other social and economic factors, are actually reducing such disparities, we cannot find any clear sign of such desired impact. Our conclusion is that regional and structural policies serve mostly a redistributional purpose, motivated by the nature of the political equilibria upon which the European Union is built. They have little relationship with fostering economic growth. This casts a serious doubt on their social value and, furthermore, strongly questions extending such policies to future members of the European Union. A successful EU enlargement, in our view, calls for an immediate and drastic revision of regional economic policies. — Michele Boldrin and Fabio Canova

850 citations

Book
01 Jan 1985
TL;DR: In this paper, the case for regional policy regional policy instruments indigenous development - small firms and technological progress regional policy in the EEC regional policy and devolution the evaluation of regional policy.
Abstract: Regional income determination - multiplier models, input-output models regional growth disparities- neoclassical models export-led models of regional growth regional employment growth regional unemployment disparities interregional trade interregional migration the case for regional policy regional policy instruments indigenous development - small firms and technological progress regional policy in the EEC regional policy and devolution the evaluation of regional policy.

825 citations

Posted Content
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed two strategically different options of EU regional policy: place-neutral versus place-based policies for economic development and found that in many EU regions, the placeneutral policies may not be the best policy response to facing new challenges posed by deeper economic integration and globalisation.
Abstract: EU regional policy is an investment policy. It supports job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development. These investments support the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy. The present paper analysis two strategically different options of EU regional policy: place-neutral versus place-based policies for economic development. Our results suggest that in many EU regions the place-neutral policies may no be the best policy response to facing new challenges posed by deeper economic integration and globalisation.

789 citations


"Cohesion or confusion: a policy sea..." refers background in this paper

  • ...For example, there is a conflict between the reasoning of the Barca (2009) report (which suggests that all regions should be eligible, even if the intensity of support varies) and the ECORYS (2008) report (which argues on subsidiarity grounds that future cohesion policy should be limited to member…...

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  • ...A possible solution advocated by Barca (2009) is for cohesion policy to concentrate on a limited number of visible and politically agreed objectives within a broad remit of advancing economic and social cohesion....

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  • ...Barca (2009) argues forcefully against repatriation on the grounds that this would entrench a side-payment logic and would contradict the economic development logic that he maintains should be at the heart of cohesion policy....

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  • ...One prominent strand of thinking is that regional disparities in economic performance stem from market failures that create traps (Barca 2009) from which competitively weaker regions are unable to escape without external intervention in the form of economic development subsidies....

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  • ...The way it has evolved has partly reflected significant episodes in European integration, such as the single market, agreement on EMU and the recent EU-10+2 enlargement (Barry and Begg 2003; Barca 2009)....

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Trending Questions (1)
What are the criticisms of cohesion policy?

The paper discusses potential conflicts in policy aims and concerns about possible confusion in objectives of cohesion policy.