The EU Cohesion Policy is one of the European Union's key policy instruments for reducing economic and social disparities among its regions. The paper evaluates the policy contribution to regional economic growth in V4 (Visegrad Four) countries. The study establishes a significant variation in...

Independent and high-quality evaluations of government policies are an important input for designing evidence-based policy. Lack of incentives and institutions to write such evaluations, on the other hand, carry the risk of turning the system into a costly beauty contest. We study one of the...

The original full study analyses the evolution and current implementation status of synergies between the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme (HE) and the funds and programmes underpinning the European Union's (EU) Cohesion Policy (CP). Synergies between the HE and CP...

This study examines the evolution and the current status of the implementation of synergies between Horizon Europe and the Cohesion Policy funds for research and innovation activities. It provides insights into the main barriers and drivers for the uptake of these synergies, along with possible...

This study examines the evolution and the current status of the implementation of synergies between Horizon Europe and the Cohesion Policy funds for research and innovation activities. It provides insights into the main barriers and drivers for the uptake of these synergies, along with possible...

The original full study analyses the evolution and current implementation status of synergies between the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme (HE) and the funds and programmes underpinning the European Union's (EU) Cohesion Policy (CP). Synergies between the HE and CP...

The purpose of the 'Support for Smart Villages in the CAP Strategic Plans' report carried out in the framework of the 2nd Preparatory Action - Smart areas in the 21th century - is to provide an overview on how Smart Villages concept has been programmed in the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plans (CAP...

Smart Villages is a relatively new concept that was first formulated by the European Commission - at the initiation of the European Parliament through the EU Action for Smart Villages in 2017. The 1st Preparatory Action on Smart Rural Areas in the 21st Century (called Smart Rural 21 project,...

Green transition is one of the priority areas in the European Union (EU), and thus also the focus of EU cohesion policy implementation during the 2021-2027 programming period, through "green growth". To establish adequate guidelines and achieve better outcomes, it is necessary to observe and...

The additionality principle of the European cohesion policy was verified ex-ante by the European Commission and was eliminated starting from the 2021-27 programming period. However, the cohesion treatment may have ex-post reduced, in some cases, national spending and the decision to eliminate...

Poverty can be defined in various ways, capturing different facets of deprivation. Traditionally, poverty has been understood as insufficient command over economic resources. This is typically measured in monetary terms and is expressed in one of two ways: absolute poverty, and relative poverty....

This paper introduces a novel approach to measuring synergies between Horizon 2020 and cohesion policy funding in the field of R&I during the 2014-2020 programming period. Leveraging project-level data, we calculate regional cosine similarity indices based on societal grand challenges (SGCs)...

We present a novel approach for analyzing the effects of EU cohesion policy on local economic activity. For all municipalities in the border area of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, we collect project-level data on EU funding in the period between 2007 and 2013. Using night light emission...

Independent and high-quality evaluations of government policies are an important input for designing evidence-based policy. Lack of incentives and institutions to write such evaluations, on the other hand, carry the risk of turning the system into a costly beauty contest. We study one of the...

The European Committee of the Region's 10-Point Support Package for Ukraine is a comprehensive set of tailor-made measures that ensure immediate aid to a nation at war and its people, while also strengthening Ukrainian local and regional authorities' capacities to contribute to Ukraine's...

The European Committee of the Region's 10-Point Support Package for Ukraine is a comprehensive set of tailor-made measures that ensure immediate aid to a nation at war and its people, while also strengthening Ukrainian local and regional authorities' capacities to contribute to Ukraine's...

This reflection paper examines the influence of administrative capacity on the absorption and effective use of Cohesion Policy funds. First, it examines the current level of absorption of Cohesion Policy funds in the 2014-2020 programming period. Second, a literature review on the relationship...

This paper shows that regional policies can decrease populist support. We focus on the "development objective" (Objective-1) of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), meant to support lagging-behind regions. For causal inference, we exploit three sources of quasi-exogenous variation in a...

This year's EIB Group Activities in EU Cohesion Regions report focuses on the importance of building inclusive communities. This report analyses the EIB Group's activity in cohesion regions in 2023, with particular emphasis on targeted social investments in key systemic enablers in those...

The European Union's Cohesion Policy is vital in reducing economic and social disparities and promoting harmonious development across the continent. The policy, implemented together with the EU countries and regions, gives active, timely support for employment, entrepreneurship, research &...

This year's EIB Group Activities in EU Cohesion Regions report focuses on the importance of building inclusive communities. This report analyses the EIB Group's activity in cohesion regions in 2023, with particular emphasis on targeted social investments in key systemic enablers in those...

This year's EIB Group Activities in EU Cohesion Regions report focuses on the importance of building inclusive communities. This report analyses the EIB Group's activity in cohesion regions in 2023, with particular emphasis on targeted social investments in key systemic enablers in those...

In the 2021-2027 programming period, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and Just Transition Fund (JTF) play a significant role in support to skills. Additional funds, such as the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF), Erasmus+, Technical Support...

We, elected representatives of regions and cities all over Europe, call on the European institutions and on national governments to devise a comprehensive EU agenda which puts the strengthening of social, economic and territorial cohesion at its very core. We share common objectives: ensuring...

Totalling EUR 392 billion for the 2021-2027 period, Cohesion Policy is the main EU investment policy to implement the Treaty objective of strengthening the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the EU and reducing disparities between the levels of development of various regions. Cohesion...

This study analyses the absorption rates of the EU Cohesion Policy funds in 2014-2020 over time across funds (ERDF, ESF, CF, and REACT-EU), and across Member States and regions. It also provides a comparison with 2007-2013 absorption. A summary of absorption drivers, obstacles and undertaken...

The 9th Cohesion Report highlights significant achievements of Cohesion Policy in terms of fostering upwards economic and social convergence in the Union. Challenges remain especially at regional level, and these will be further impacted by structural transformations. Lessons learned from past...

The 9th Cohesion Report highlights significant achievements of Cohesion Policy in terms of fostering upwards economic and social convergence in the Union. Challenges remain especially at regional level, and these will be further impacted by structural transformations. Lessons learned from past...

The 9th Cohesion Report highlights significant achievements of Cohesion Policy in terms of fostering upwards economic and social convergence in the Union. Challenges remain especially at regional level, and these will be further impacted by structural transformations. Lessons learned from past...

The 9th Cohesion Report highlights significant achievements of Cohesion Policy in terms of fostering upwards economic and social convergence in the Union. Challenges remain especially at regional level, and these will be further impacted by structural transformations. Lessons learned from past...

This publication includes a set of examples of projects in rural areas from 23 Member States and four cross-border regions to showcase the long-lasting impact of the cohesion policy on the ground. The examples are structured around the following themes, among others: the green transition, the...

This publication includes a set of examples of projects in rural areas from 23 Member States and four cross-border regions to showcase the long-lasting impact of the cohesion policy on the ground. The examples are structured around the following themes, among others: the green transition, the...

The largest investment toolbox under the EU budget, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) have been stable drivers of investment in the EU. With their long-term span and thematic focus, they have channelled resources towards strengthening the economic, social and territorial...

This study focuses on EU Cohesion Policy in the nine outermost regions. It first outlines the geographic, climate, socio-economic, demographic and administrative characteristics of these regions and further analyses the vulnerabilities affecting their convergence processes. It pays particular...

Cohesion Policy is the prime investment policy of the European Union (EU). It is designed to promote harmonious progress, advancing economic, social and territorial development throughout the Union by channelling investments into regions with lower levels of development and/or specific...