The ‘added value’ of European Union Cohesion policy

Abstract

Mairate A. (2006) The ‘added value’ of European Union Cohesion policy, Regional Studies 40, 167–177. As part of the wider debate on financing the European Union, the notion of Community ‘added value’ is being used to justify expenditure on Cohesion policy. Broadly, this is defined as the increased value resulting from Community action, and the extent to which intervention adds ‘value’ to the interventions of other administrations, organizations and institutions. The paper provides an assessment of the added value brought about by European Union regional policy on the basis of the past experience across Member States and regions. It discusses different aspects of added value with respect to impacts, economic integration, policy-making and programming, institutional developments, implementation, learning, and political awareness. It concludes by commenting on the proposed reform of the Structural Funds.

Added value  Impact  Integration  Programming  Reform

Mairate A. (2006) The ‘added value’ of European Union Cohesion policy, Regional Studies 40, 167–177. As part of the wider debate on financing the European Union, the notion of Community ‘added value’ is being used to justify expenditure on Cohesion policy. Broadly, this is defined as the increased value resulting from Community action, and the extent to which intervention adds ‘value’ to the interventions of other administrations, organizations and institutions. The paper provides an assessment of the added value brought about by European Union regional policy on the basis of the past experience across Member States and regions. It discusses different aspects of added value with respect to impacts, economic integration, policy-making and programming, institutional developments, implementation, learning, and political awareness. It concludes by commenting on the proposed reform of the Structural Funds.

Valeur ajoutée  Impact  Intégration  Programmation  Réforme

Mairate A. (2006) The ‘added value’ of European Union Cohesion policy, Regional Studies 40, 167–177. As part of the wider debate on financing the European Union, the notion of Community ‘added value’ is being used to justify expenditure on Cohesion policy. Broadly, this is defined as the increased value resulting from Community action, and the extent to which intervention adds ‘value’ to the interventions of other administrations, organizations and institutions. The paper provides an assessment of the added value brought about by European Union regional policy on the basis of the past experience across Member States and regions. It discusses different aspects of added value with respect to impacts, economic integration, policy-making and programming, institutional developments, implementation, learning, and political awareness. It concludes by commenting on the proposed reform of the Structural Funds.

Mehrwert  Auswirkung  Integration  Programmierung  Reform

Mairate A. (2006) The ‘added value’ of European Union Cohesion policy, Regional Studies 40, 167–177. As part of the wider debate on financing the European Union, the notion of Community ‘added value’ is being used to justify expenditure on Cohesion policy. Broadly, this is defined as the increased value resulting from Community action, and the extent to which intervention adds ‘value’ to the interventions of other administrations, organizations and institutions. The paper provides an assessment of the added value brought about by European Union regional policy on the basis of the past experience across Member States and regions. It discusses different aspects of added value with respect to impacts, economic integration, policy-making and programming, institutional developments, implementation, learning, and political awareness. It concludes by commenting on the proposed reform of the Structural Funds.

Valor añadido  Impacto  Integración  Programación  Reforma

Acknowledgements

During the final revision of this paper, the author appreciated the assistance of those who acted as referees, and in particular the journal editors. The author is also grateful to colleagues at the Evaluation Unit for providing useful material. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

Notes

1. Several organizations or departments have developed a concept of ‘added value’ as a basis for setting policy goals. For example, in 2003, the European Investment Bank set out three criteria (called ‘pillars’) for assessing its own added value: conformity of the bank's operations with EU objectives; quality and robustness of the investment project; and financial added value through long-term funding and financial engineering.

2. In Spain, about 2400 km of motorways and 3400 km of primary roads were constructed between 1994 and 1999, and 2500 and 700 km between 2000 and 2006. The high-speed rail network was extended from 623 to 1140 km notably with the Madrid–Barcelona–French Border link. In Portugal, several road links to the trans-European network were built and the rail network upgraded (Lisbon–Porto). In Greece, the completion of the two major motorways (Pathé and Egnathia) is foreseen before 2010. Several projects were completed to reduce congestion in metropolitan areas with the construction of metros in Lisbon, Porto and Athens. A number of ports and airports were also developed (e.g. Athens–Spata).

3. For 1994–99, for which ex-post evaluations are available, the Structural Funds amounted to [euro]2.8 billion per year (compared with [euro]3.2 billion for 2000–06), with an aid intensity of [euro]44 per person (currently [euro]41). Eighty-two regions, covering a population of 62 million inhabitants, i.e. 17% of the total EU-15 population, benefited from support under Objective 2. The aid was concentrated on business support (approximately one-quarter of the total); economic infrastructure, particularly the development of industrial sites (approximately 27%); vocational training (around 20%); and research and new technologies (nearly 10%).

4. Examples are the Spanish–Portuguese border with the bridge over the Guadiana River and the Huelva–Lagos motorway, and the Øresund bridge between Copenhagen in Denmark and Malmö in Sweden.

5. On this issue, see a detailed analysis by Bachtler and Taylor (1999).

6. For example, the incentive mechanisms include the ‘n + 2 rule’ and ‘Performance Reserve’ (see Batterbury in this volume).