Influence of European Structural Funds on Social and Economic Performance in Spanish and Portuguese Regions

Piecuch, Jakub (2006): Influence of European Structural Funds on Social and Economic Performance in Spanish and Portuguese Regions. Published in: Social Research , Vol. 7, No. 1 (2006): pp. 105-113.

Abstract

Spanish and Portuguese regions make up a distinct area in the European Community. Majority of them can be described as less developed economies with strong dependence on agricultural production. The position of those regions is somehow underprivileged due to their peripherality as well as topographic restrictions, which cause integration problems with the common market. In many of these areas of the Iberian Peninsula, small- scale and low tech agriculture still dominates. In most cases these regions are considered to be the areas, in which traditional economy is not adapted to market conditions. Also infrastructure provision in these areas is less developed and of poorer quality than in other parts of Europe. More advantageous situation can be observed in North - East Spanish regions, which have completed the bulk of their structural adjustments and are perceived as success areas. Nevertheless European cohesion policy still has an important role to play in dynamizing economic growth and in sustaining welfare of the habitants in the Iberian Peninsula.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: regional development, spain, portugal, structural funds, economic performance
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics; R - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

References

Commission decision drawing up the list of regions covered by Objective 1 of Structural Funds for the period 2000 to 2006. (1999). Official Journal of the European Communities, 1 July. No. 1999/502/EC.

Commission of the European Communities, European Cohesion Report, Brussels/Luxembourg 1996, p. 145.

Commission of the European Communities, Sixth periodic Report on the Social and Economic Situation and Development Regions in the European Union, Brussels/Luxembourg 1998, p. 155-157, 229.

Commission of the European Communities, Commission Report. Annual Report of the Cohesion Fund 1999, Brussels 11. 01.2001, p. 19.

Council Regulation (EC) of 11 July 2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, No 1083/2006.

European Commission, An overview of Regulations 2007-2013 on Cohesion and Regional Policy, Inforegio Factsheet, July 2006, p. 2-4.

European Commission, Decision of 4 August 2006 fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the European territorial cooperation objective for the period 2007-2013, No. 2006/609/CE.

European Commission, Decision of 4 August 2006 fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the Regional competitiveness and employment objective for the period 2007-2013, No. 2006/593/EC.

European Commission, Decision of 4 August 2006 fixing an indicative allocation by Member State of the commitment appropriations for the Convergence objective for the period 2007-2013, No. 2006/594/EC.

European Commission, Second report on economic and social cohesion. Unity, solidarity, diversity for Europe, its people and its territory (2001). Luxembourg, p. 3-10, 13-17.

European Commission, Third report on economic and social cohesion: A new partnership for cohesion. (2004). Convergence, competitiveness, cooperation, Luxembourg, p. 137-142.

European Communities (2004). Working for the regions, Luxembourg, p. 13.

Instituto National de Estadistica. (2006). Espaha en cifras 2006, Madrid, p. 4, 8.

Soromenho-Marques, V., Queiros, M., Vale M. (2003). National Report. Regional Sustainable Development. Portugal, Universidad de Lisboa, Lisbon, p. 8.