1. A quick Guide to Regional Policy Its origins and purpose 2. What is regional policy?

Article 158 of the Treaty states that:

"in order to strengthen its economic and social cohesion, the Community shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions or islands, including rural areas" also called: cohesion policy structural policy refers to the Structural Funds or "EU money"!

3. Origins Treaty of Rome set up: Why? Common market thought to be enough Strong economic growth in 1950s and 1960s CAP European Social Fund No specific provision for regional policy or regional fund

4. Why change? Recession of 1970s highlighted development gaps Regional disparities increased with accession of: 1973: UK, Ireland and Denmark 1981: Greece 1986: Spain and Portugal

5. Why is regional policy important? Socio-economic cohesion considered to be a priority for the European Union Second most heavily funded sector in the Union after the Common Agricultural Policy. From less than 5% of 1975 budget to 35% of 1999 budget Now moving towards 40%, especially if you add research 233 billion. (approximately 160 billion) Visible sign of the EU Promotes convergence (helping poorer regions develop)

6. Economic Rationale Effects of single market on regional disparities Migration to rich areas not poor Less mobility in Europe Social costs

7. Political rationale need to legitimise the new economic and political order fiscal and monetary policy seen as not being enough "sweetener" for Member State accession

8. Greater differences between regions and Member States: regional disparity levels are higher than national disparities but are also falling Over of EU-27 population lives in regions below 75% of EU average GDP 13 Member States of EU-27 have GDP below 90% of average 21% of population

9. EU spending 2007 2013 (wykres)

10. Regional and Cohesion Policy Three new objectives Convergence (like old Objective 1: greater scope) 81.9% Competitiveness (old Objective 2&3, tie to Lisbon) 15.7% Territorial co-operation (former Interreg programme and RFEC networks to test ideas) 2.4%

11. EU Structural Funds The 2007-2013 Structural and Cohesion Funds The European Council of December 2005 agreed a total Structural Funds budget of 308 billion for 2007-13. As a result of the agreement, the UK will continue to receive substantial Structural Funds receipts, amounting to 9.4 billion (2004 prices), for 2007-13.

12. Conclusions Does it work? across Member States yes within Member States less

What will enlargement do (Poland 40 million, Spain 40 million) from 15 to 25 Member States new Member States are much poorer pressure on budget

Causes friction between member-states Poor vs. rich South vs. North East vs. West