Partnerships, programmes and the promotion of regional development: an evaluation of the operation of the Structural Funds regional programmes

This monograph provides an assessment and evaluation of certain key aspects of the development and operation of the European Structural Funds regional programmes. These programmes, which have been and still are co-financed by the European Community/Union and a range of national and regional partners in member states, were introduced in the late 1980s and are now an established feature of regional development and planning in Europe. Many lessons can be identified from the operation of the programmes, some of which are applicable to other aspects of regional planning, development and management. There are also a number of important lessons related to the extent to which member state planning and management arrangements are able to accommodate the programmes and associated partnerships; these lessons are of particular significance for countries considering the devolution of government functions or the implementation of regionalisation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.