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Cohesion Policy Implementation in Southern Europe: Policy, Institutional and Political Hurdles. What Next?

European Politics
European Union
Governance
Government
Public Administration
Public Policy
Qualitative Comparative Analysis
Laura Polverari
Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies, University of Padova
Laura Polverari
Department of Political Science, Law, and International Studies, University of Padova

Abstract

Recent economic and social developments – such as the economic crisis, austerity policies and refugee emergency – are having a particularly profound impact on the Southern countries of the EU (notably Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain), all of which over recent years have experienced low growth, worsening of inequalities, poverty and social exclusion, problems related to in and out migration, and others. These challenges have intervened on top of pre-existing territorial and social disparities. European Cohesion policy, of which the Southern European Member States have been historically amongst the main recipients, has sought to address these problems, with mixed results however. The paper examines the past performance of Cohesion policy in these countries and the implementation challenges, of both administrative and political nature, that have emerged, both on the longer and shorter term. These challenges are considered against the changes introduced in the last reform of the policy (for the period 2014-2020) and against the reform options which are emerging for the post 2020 period. Recent simulations are showing that Cohesion policy support post 2020 will shift in balance from the Eastern to the Southern member states. This calls for an urgent reflection on the shape and scope of the policy, notably its suitability for the needs and potentials of Southern European countries.