EU Regional Policy
- Credits: 3
- Ending: Examination
- Range: 2P
- Semester: summer
- Year: 2
- Faculty of Economics and Finance
Teachers
Included in study programs
Teaching results
The basic task of development support is problem solving and meeting the needs of the population in a particular territory. However, each territory is characterized by unique features and prerequisites for development, which ultimately result in regional disparities within the investigated area. Subject of extensive discussions are: the right policy setting, the weaknesses of the functioning of the policy, the enormous waste and low utilization of available resources. A major problem is the lack of interest of political authorities on the results and impacts of support measures. As part of the complex policy system of this transnational grouping, we focus on the European Union's regional policy, which has gradually become a complementary mechanism for the regional policies of the Member States. As already stated in the founding documents, the promotion of economic, social and territorial cohesion is one of the main objectives of the EU's functioning. This cohesion is a manifestation of solidarity between the Member States and the regions of the EU through the cohesion policy, which includes EU regional policy.
Educational outputs:
To acquire specific knowledge in the field of regional policy of the European Union
Develop skills in interpreting the results of EU regional policy
To learn how to analyze and synthesize different approaches to the functioning of EU regional policy, to critically evaluate the development support process.
Indicative content
Understanding one of the most important EU policies. Explanation of its origin, development, principles. Description of main actors, instruments and policy feasibility. Focus of individual Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund. Preparation of the Slovak Republic for EU regional policy in terms of adherence to the basic principles - programming, additionality, partnership, subsidiarity. Creating structures for administration of EU regional policy for individual programming periods.
Support literature
INFOREGIO. 2014. Regional policy. Guidance – Evaluating EU Cohesion Policy. Dostupné na internete:
ECOMOD, 2007. Study on the Economic Impacts of Convergence Interventions (2007-2013). http:// ec. europa. eu/ regional_ policy/ sources/ docgener/ evaluation/ pdf/cf_final_report_2007.pdf. (prístup 11.12.2012).
BARCA, F. 2009. An Agenda for Reformed Cohesion Policy: A place-based approach to meeting European Union Challenges and expectations. Independent Report prepared at the request of D. Hubner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Brussels: European Commission.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION, 2010a. Document accompanying the Commission Communication on Regional policy cintributing to smart growth in Europe 2020. COM (2010) 553 Final. Commission Staff Working Document. Brussels: European Commission.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION. 2010b.Regional policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020. COM (2010) 553 Final. Communication from theCommission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Committee of the Regions. Brussels: European Commission.
EECL, European Coalition for Community Living. 2010. Wasted Time, Wasted Money, Wasted Lives ... A Wasted Opportunity? – A Focus Report on how the current use of Structural Funds perpetuates the social exclusion of disabled people in Central and Eastern Europe by failing to support the transition from institutional care to community-based services. 2010. 84 p. [cit. 2014-04-01] Dostupné na internete:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DG Regional Policy. 2006. The New Programming Period 2007-2013. Commission Methodological Paper Giving Guidelines On The Calculation Of Public Or Equivalent Structural Spending For The Purposes Of Additionality. Working Document No. 3. 2006. 19 p.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – DG For International Policies. 2011. Comparative Study on the Visions and Options for Cohesion Policy After 2013. Policy Department – Structural and Cohesion Policies. 2011. 154 p.
BACHTLER, J. 1998. Reforming The Structural Funds: Challenges For EU Regional Policy. In European Planning Studies. ISSN 1469-5944, 1998, Vol. 6, No. 6, p. 645-664.
EVALSED. 2013a. The resource for the evaluation of Socio-Economic Development - Evaluation guide. 119 p. DG for Regional Policy. [cit. 2014-01-04] Dostupné na internete:
Syllabus
1. Introduction, history and evolution 2. The basic framework of EU regional policy 3. Objectives and principles of EU regional policy 4. Programming periods - comparison 5. Institutional framework 6. Financial Framework of EU regional policy 7. Implementation, Operational programs, Priorities of EU regional policy 8. Evaluation of EU regional policy 9. Criticisms and weaknesses in the functioning of EU regional poolitics 10. Practice of regional policy in selected EU countries 11. Practice of regional policy in selected EU countries 12. Practice of regional policy in selected EU countries 13. The future of EU regional policy
Requirements to complete the course
final written exam – 100 %
Date of approval: 10.02.2023
Date of the latest change: 12.03.2020