European Regions and Structural Policies of the EU

The student learns what the indicators measuring regional differences within Europe are and the basic theories explaining agglomeration and deglomeration forces (NGE), and the diversity of the central and peripheral regions. The student finds out how to explain what the objectives of regional policy are and how the principles and financing of EU structural policies have evolved. The student is ready to critically analyze the effects and effectiveness of structural policies and assess the processes of convergence and economic divergence in regions and EU countries.

The purpose of the course is to explain regional differences within Europe and the diversity of the central and peripheral regions. The focus is put on the objectives of regional policy as well as the evolution of structural policies of European Union.

Introductory Remarks: Class Organization, Literature Overview, Conceptualization of Key Terminology.

European Regions and Subnational Democracy in Europe: Comparative Reflections

Theories of Regional and Local Development - Selected Cases

The Principle of Subsidiarity in Context of Multilevel Governance in the European Union

The Structural Power of the European Union: Diplomatic, Political, Economic-Financial Instruments

The Evolution of the Regional Policy of the European Union

EU Funds as Instruments of the EU Regional Policy

MID-TERM TEST

The Essence and Principles of EU Cohesion Policy

Structural Reforms in EU Cohesion Policy

The Multi-tiered Dimension of the Social Policy of the European Union

Employment Policy-making in the European Union

Regional Dimension of the EU Environmental Policy Change

Structural Reforms in a Time of Crisis: Trends and Challenges

The Development Prospects of European Regions.

Recommended readings:

Books:

Christiansen T., Piattoni S., Informal Governance in the European Union, Cheltenham 2003.

Duarte A., Pascariu G. (eds.), Core-Periphery Patterns Across the European Union: Case Studies and Lessons from Eastern and Southern Europe, Emerald Publishing 2017.

Funk B., Pizzati L., European Integration, Regional Policy, and Growth, Washington 2003.

Loughlin J., Hendriks F., Lidstrom A., The Oxford Handbook of Local and Regional Democracy in Europe, Oxford University Press 2012.

Pazos-Vidal S., Subsidiarity and EU Multilevel Governance: Actors, Networks and Agendas, Routledge 2019.

Wallace H., Pollack M., Young A. (eds.), Policy-Making in the European Union, seventh edition, Oxford University Press 2015.

Articles:

Capello R., Location, Regional Growth and Local Development Theories, AESTIMUM 58, Giugno 2011, pp.1-25.

Cechin-Crista P., Aurel Mihuţ A., Dobrin G.I., Blaj S., The Social Policy of the European Union, Vol. 4 No. 10 [Special Issue – August 2013], International Journal of Business and Social Science.

Ciccone A., Agglomeration effects in Europe, European Economic Review 46, 2002.

Huguenot-Noel R., Hunter A., Zuleeg F., Future links between structural reforms and EU cohesion policy, European Parliament, Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, Brussels 2018.

Ilzkovitz F., Dierx A., Structural Reforms: A European Perspective, Dans Reflets et perspectives de la vie économique 2011/3, pp.13-26.

Keukeleire S., Delreux T., Competing structural powers and challenges for the EU's structural foreign policy, Global Affairs, 2015, Vol. 1, No. 1, 43–50.

Puga D., European regional policies in light of recent location theories , Journal of Economic Geography, Volume 2, Issue 4, 1 October 2002.

Scheinert C., von Lierop C., Linking cohesion policy and the European Semester. Partnership and multi-level governance to boost investment and structural reforms, European Parliamentary Research Service 2019.

Structural Reforms in Europe – Achievements and Homework, OECD 2015.

Szajnowska-Wysocka A., Theories of regional and local development – abridged review, BULLETIN OF GEOGRAPHY, socio–economic series NO.12/2009.

Szlachta J., Zaucha J., A new paradigm of the EU regional development in the context of the Poland’s National Spatial Development Concept, Institute for Development Working Papers 2010.

Internet sources:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/summary/chapter/regional_policy.html?root_default=SUM_1_CODED=26&locale=en

https://europa.eu/european-union/topics/regional-policy_en

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/regions-and-cities

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/11348978/KS-HA-20-001-EN-N.pdf/f1ac43ea-cb38-3ffb-ce1f-f0255876b670?t=1601901088000

The graduate student will:

- understand the structure, competences and functioning of the European Union in the context of creating and implementing EU structural policies and its impact on European regions (K_W 05);

- know the economic and social aspects of the integration of the European Union Member States and the impact of the instruments of the European Union regional policy on the functioning and economic and social development of the Member States (K_W 08);

- be able to analyze the influence of various political and social factors on the creation of cooperation mechanisms between EU institutions and institutions of the Member States in the context of selected EU structural policies (K_U06);

- be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the general diagnosis of the quality of the conducted structural policies in the context of their impact on the development of EU Member States as well as identify and interpret trends and scenarios for the development of European regions based on the analysis of public policies implemented at the national and supranational level (K_U 10);

- is ready to represent in an institutionalized way the diverse interests of various social groups, taking into account the political, economic and legal aspects of the undertaken initiatives (K_K05).

interactional lecture, group debate.

non applicable