EU cohesion policy in practice : what does it achieve?

Introduction: Understanding the Effectiveness of EU Cohesion Policy -- The Evaluation of EU Cohesion Policy -- A Different Approach to Evaluating Cohesion Policy : Theory-Based Evaluation -- What was the Problem? Regional Development Challenges and Needs -- Regional Strategies and their Relevance to Needs -- The Effectiveness of Programmes in Achieving Objectives -- The Relevance of Programmes to Regional Needs : Utility-- Implications for the Design and Implementation of Policies and Programmes -- Conclusions