The Implementational Analysis of EU Structural Funds: Case Studies of Cohesion Countries
Keywords:
European Union Structural Funds, Cohesion policy, National development Plan, Regional Development Plan, Community Support Framework, Operations Programmes, Community Support Framework, Community Initiatives.Abstract
This publication provides and analyses the European Union Structural Funds impact on the disparity
the Irelands and Greece, Spain and Portugal. As my assumption is that Structural Funds were not enough
acceptably put to use, thus this article provides the actual results observed in an attempt to prove this
supposition by explaining the major examples of Ireland’s recent economic growth. The Irish experience and
comparative analysis of Greece, Spain and Portugal cases is used as a model of successful use of structural
funding. Despite its limitations, Ireland economic convergence is compared with the other Cohesion countries
during the 1988, 1993 and 1999 reforms.
