The territorial cooperation policy of the EU with the countries of South East Europe: An interim evaluation

Angelos Kotios; Spyridon Roukanas; George Galanos

Angelos Kotios University of Piraeus, Department of International and European Studies, Piraeus, Greece
Spyridon Roukanas University of Piraeus, Department of International and European Studies, Piraeus, Greece
George Galanos George Galanos, University of Piraeus, Department of International and European Studies, Piraeus, Greece

Keywords: European Union, South East Europe, Regional Integration, Cohesion Policy

Abstract

During the programming period 2007-2013 the Cohesion Policy of the EU was adopted and the policy of territorial cooperation with third countries was implemented. Within this framework, the EU co-finances (through the European Regional Development Fund, the pre-accession instrument and the instrument of European Neighbourhood Policy) a series of cross-border, interregional and transnational cooperation programmes in Southeast Europe. The South East European countries are eligible for all these programmes, but the only programme that includes all countries in the region is the South East Europe Programme 2007-2013. The aim of this study is to conduct an interim evaluation of these programmes and present suggestions for the new programming period for the Cohesion Policy 2014-2020. Section 2 describes the EU policy of territorial cooperation with non-EU countries. Section 3 reviews the framework of EU policies and programmes fostering regional integration and territorial cohesion in Southeast Europe. Section 4 presents the area, aim, objectives and priority axes of the programme, while Section 5 offers an assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of the programme. Section 6 also includes some critical observations and policy proposals.

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