EU Cohesion Policy and the New Member States: Soft Power of EU Policies?

Hoffman, István (2024) EU Cohesion Policy and the New Member States: Soft Power of EU Policies? In: Contemporary Pathways of European Local and Regional Development. Institute for Local Self-Government Maribor, pp. 99-115. ISBN 9789617124217

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Abstract

Between 2004 and 2013, 13 new member states joined the European Union. Most of the regions of these new member states belonged to the less developed or transition regions, which is why EU cohesion policy played an important role in these countries. However, the EU cohesion policy regulation has been partially remodelled in the last two decades, compliance with EU rules have been an important part of EU regional development rules. Therefore, EU policy on regional development (cohesion) could also emphasise those policies that are based on Member States' competences (e.g. social policy, health policy, education policies etc.). Over the last ten years, the role of EU cohesion policy has crystallised in the area of the rule of law and the defence of EU values. The new provisions of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 on the framework conditions, the general and specific objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Council decisions based on these regulations have made it clear that the role of EU cohesion policy and EU funds has also grown in the area of governance. This chapter analyses this impact on the basis of an examination of legal regulations, policy documents and policy practises, in particular the analysis of the Hungarian case. To show the impact of these policies, a case study is added to the chapter: the impact of this funding on the Hungarian national and local authorities' accessible public transport projects.

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