In this thesis I took a closer look at the second largest and most flexible policy field of the EU: Regional Policy. At present, there are debates about the future of EU Regional Policy, closely linked to the current debate about the EU budget for the planning period 2007-2013 for it is this budget that sets the boundaries for the financial resources of EU Regional Policy. I assume that the future of the EU, its acceptance within the community and its legitimacy by the community, is dependent on the outcome of this ongoing debates and the future of regional policy. By analysing the developments and the ongoing debates concerning EU Regional Policy so far I give prospects for the future of the EU in general and EU Regional Policy in particular. The eastern enlargement is highly influencing regional policy and will result in a financial shift from west to east. I used Latvia as a case study to show in what way concrete structures of a post-Soviet state are being influenced and developed.
In order to investigate and do the appropriate research concerning my case study I lived in Riga, the capital and political Walhalla of Latvia, for half a year. By being there and participating in seminars and congresses and by carrying out a project with a main focus to bridge the information gap between local Latvian authorities and the EU, I got a good overview how the different governmental officials, but the “normal people” as well, judge the EU and EU Regional Policy in particular.
I learned that regional policy is extremely subject to the spectators view. The judgement of EU Regional Policy depends on different political, social and moral argumentations. That the angle on how to look at the topic is very different seems obvious: Let’s take a Latvian mayor who is also part-time farmer as an example: Although he is interested in EU support he is barely able to fulfil the administrative and material conditions necessary to be eligible for EU support. His Dutch colleague on the other hand is concerned about the financing of his relatively efficient local administration and he might judge financial support to weaker EU regions as competition. This example shows the different starting points. The decision-making process shows similar disparities. At the moment there is a clear gap between net-contributors and net-beneficiaries within the Union. They have not come to a compromise concerning EU Regional Policy and the budget yet.
...
Table of contents
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
§ 1.1 Personal interests and the way to Latvia
§ 1.2 Research outline
CHAPTER 2 EU REGIONAL POLICY, A PACKAGE DEAL IN RELATION TO OTHER POLICY AREAS?
§ 2.1 Introduction
§ 2.2 The rise of Regional Policy in a multi-level framework
CHAPTER 3: EUROPEAN REGIONAL POLICY
§ 3.1 History
§ 3.1.1 European regional development till the Berlin summit 1999
§ 3.1.2 Agenda 2000
§ 3.2 Defining the terms and strategy
§ 3.3 Starting point Regional Policy
§ 3.4 Regions
§ 3.5 Instruments of solidarity
§ 3.5.1 The four Structural Funds:
§ 3.5.2 The three priority Objectives:
§ 3.5.3 The four community Initiatives:
§ 3.5.4 The Cohesion Fund
§ 3.5.5 Other programmes
§ 3.5.6 Pre-accession instruments and other assistance to candidate states
§ 3.6 Decision making processes and actors involved
§ 3.6.1 How is support being transferred from the European to the regional levels
§ 3.6.2 The role of the regions
§ 3.6.3 Other actors involved
§ 3.7 Budget of EU Regional Policy
§ 3.7.1 Introduction
§ 3.7.2 Budget of Structural and Cohesion Funds
§ 3.7.3 Budget of the pre-accession Funds and allocation to the new member states
§ 3.7.4 Future and reform of the budget
§ 3.8 A state of the art
§ 3.8.1 A closer look at the goals and reasons for Regional Policy
§ 3.8.2 A closer look at the effectiveness of Regional Policy
§ 3.8.3 Dilemmas and problem areas faced in the light of enlargement
§ 3.8.4 What can be done?
§ 3.8.5 Proposals new Cohesion Policy by the EC for the planning period 2007-2013
§ 3.9 Summary and concluding remarks
CHAPTER 4 GOALS AND FEARS FROM THE MAIN ACTORS INVOLVED
§ 4.1 The trend towards Western Europe
§ 4.2 Enlargement
CHAPTER 5 IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REGIONAL POLICY IN LATVIA
§ 5.1 Introduction
§ 5.2 Decentralisation and its effects
§ 5.2.1 Developments of the decentralisation process
§ 5.2.2 Defining Self-government in Latvia
§ 5.2.3 Practical example: Enforcing the EU Requirements on Water Management in Latvian Municipalities
§ 5.3 Different authorities dealing with Regional Policy
§ 5.4 Governance structure regarding Regional Policy
§ 5.5 Political environment and political will
CHAPTER 6 LATVIA’S (DEVELOPMENT) STRATEGY TO USE EU REGIONAL POLICY FINANCES
§ 6.1 Introduction
§ 6.2 Analysis
§ 6.3 Strategy
§ 6.4 Horizontal Objectives – Coherence with the Policies of the EU
§ 6.5 Funding priorities and available finances
§ 6.6 How to measure it?
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the future of EU Regional Policy and its potential impact on Latvia, specifically focusing on whether the country can effectively benefit from available structural funds given its current institutional frameworks and administrative capacities.
- The institutional complexity and structural goals of EU Regional Policy.
- The influence of enlargement on financial allocation and regional disparities.
- Administrative and governance challenges in post-Soviet states like Latvia.
- The effectiveness of current policy mechanisms and the necessity for institutional reform.
- The interplay between national political interests and EU regional objectives.
Excerpt from the Book
Personal interests and the way to Latvia
At the end of 2000, when I started a half-year internship at EUREGIO, a cross-border public organ between Germany and the Netherlands, I became interested in the Regional Policy of the European Union. EUREGIO mainly deals with the INTERREG program of the EU, promoting cross-border, trans-national and interregional cooperation. This program is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and this ERDF is on its turn one of the four of the structural funds that forms the lion’s share of EU’s Regional Policy.
From January till August 2004, I was working on a project called ”The environmental helpdesk” in Latvia. This project, initiated by the Dutch Province of Overijssel, was set up in order to bridge the gap of information of water management related topics between the EU and the local governments in Latvia. The Ministry of Environment of Latvia and the national government have difficulties to cope with the new burden that additionally lies on them since enlargement. In that sense, I studied the institutional structures of the country and the main characteristics of the governance system and its links. It has been very important to understand the relevant actors’ points of view and the potentialities for change in Latvia. Some EU criteria are, at minimum, questionably institutionalized in Latvia.
Chapter Summaries
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the personal motivation for the study and the core research question regarding the future of regional policy in the context of Latvia's integration.
CHAPTER 2 EU REGIONAL POLICY, A PACKAGE DEAL IN RELATION TO OTHER POLICY AREAS?: Discusses the institutional framework of regional policy and how it functions as a tool for negotiation in a multi-level governance system.
CHAPTER 3: EUROPEAN REGIONAL POLICY: Provides a comprehensive overview of the history, instruments, and budgetary processes of EU regional policy, including the challenges posed by eastern enlargement.
CHAPTER 4 GOALS AND FEARS FROM THE MAIN ACTORS INVOLVED: Analyzes the political climate surrounding enlargement, focusing on the specific concerns of both old and new EU member states.
CHAPTER 5 IMPLEMENTATION OF EU REGIONAL POLICY IN LATVIA: Examines the practical application of regional policy in Latvia, highlighting issues of decentralization, administrative capacity, and water management as a case study.
CHAPTER 6 LATVIA’S (DEVELOPMENT) STRATEGY TO USE EU REGIONAL POLICY FINANCES: Details the Latvian national strategy for utilizing structural funds and the associated challenges in program implementation and administrative coordination.
CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS: Synthesizes the main findings, emphasizing that while EU regional policy offers potential, its effectiveness in Latvia is contingent upon critical institutional reforms and improved administrative capacity.
Keywords
EU Regional Policy, Latvia, Structural Funds, Cohesion Policy, Multi-level Governance, Enlargement, Institution Building, Administrative Capacity, Decentralisation, Economic Disparities, Budgetary Reform, European Integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The research investigates the future of European Union Regional Policy and analyzes whether Latvia, as a new member state, can realistically leverage these policies and financial resources to foster regional development.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The thesis covers the complex institutional architecture of EU regional funds, the political debates regarding the EU budget (2007-2013), and the specific governance challenges faced by Latvia during its transition and integration process.
What is the main research question?
The primary research question driving this investigation is: "Does EU Regional Policy have a future and can Latvia benefit from it?"
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a combination of desk research regarding EU legal and policy documents, analysis of secondary academic literature, and a case study approach involving primary insights gained during the author's work in Latvia.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body details the evolution of EU regional instruments, the political dynamics of member states (especially net-contributors vs. beneficiaries), and the specific hurdles Latvia faces in implementing EU-mandated environmental and administrative standards.
How would one characterize this work using keywords?
This work is characterized by themes of multi-level governance, institutional development, EU enlargement, regional development strategies, and the structural challenges of transition economies.
Why is the case study of water management in Latvia significant?
It highlights the operational "information gap" and the lack of administrative capacity at the municipal level, serving as a concrete example of the difficulty in translating high-level EU requirements into local practical results.
What is the author's primary conclusion regarding Latvia's institutional readiness?
The author concludes that Latvia faces significant obstacles because the "right" national and regional institutions are either underdeveloped or missing, making it difficult to effectively absorb and utilize EU funds as intended.
- Citation du texte
- Chris Breuer (Auteur), 2004, Does EU Regional Policy have a future and will Latvia be able to benefit from it?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/32556
