Cohesion Policy

Question 1

How much of the EU’s budget do the cohesion funds make up?

Answer 1

1/3rd

Question 2

Which country gets the most from the Cohesion funds?

Answer 2

Poland: over €77 billion over the next MFF

Question 3

Outline the arguments for and against the EU’s cohesional funds.

Answer 3

FOR

• They enable the single market to function, by improving infrastructure and skills, undoubtedly boosting economic growth.
• By investing, the EU encourages national governments to invest more in regional development than they might otherwise have done.
• Eurosceptics generally complain about the cohesion fund as it represents further cohesion, however uneven migration from poor EU countries to rich ones may be halted somewhat by investing in infrastructure and job opportunities.

CRITICISMS

• Insufficient focus on the environment- the Comission tends to focus on projects like road building rather than greener projects like rail.
• Beurocratic and wasteful state intervention, cash would be better off in taxpayers pockets according to the right. How can an unelected Beurocrat in Brussells make decisions about wether Leeds’ tram network should receive funding
• It highlights the fact that the UK is a net contributor and will only receive 3% of the €351billion available over the next MFF

Question 4

Give an example of the successful use of ERDF money in the UK.

Answer 4

The creation of Sunderland’s ‘Software city’ in 2008, with £6.5million of EU funding to create over 100 skilled jobs in the area.