Reforming EU Cohesion Policy: A reappraisal of the performance of the Structural Funds

Article forms part of a special issue of Policy Studies: Industrial and regional policies in an enlarging EU.

Abstract
The aim of this article is to reassess the effectiveness of Cohesion policy. It examines the evidence for the performance of the policy since 1988, with a view to testing four main assumptions: that convergence is taking place at national and regional levels; that Cohesion policy has made a durable contribution to convergence and regional restructuring, in terms of GDP and employment; that Cohesion policy funds have been spent in the most effective way; and that there is a wider added value from Cohesion policy spending. The article goes on to consider issues for the budget review and how the effectiveness of Cohesion policy at the European level might be improved.