Does EU Regional Policy have a future and will Latvia be able to benefit from it?

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

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.