Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Puzzle of Absorption Problems in Central and Eastern Europe

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
EU Funds in the New Member States

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics ((PSEUP))

  • 239 Accesses

Abstract

The second chapter introduces the process of cohesion policy implementation and links its different phases to the steps of formal implementation, application, and enforcement of EU rules typically applied in EU policy studies. It then summarizes new member states’ implementation performance during the 2007–2013 financing period and discusses the variation of absorption problems. There is no obvious explanation for the observed patterns: A lack of EU enforcement after accession is an unlikely explanation for absorption problems as the use of EU funds is strongly in the interest of the new member states. Also, looking only at poor absorption capacities in the region is not fully convincing as there are instances of high absorption in low capacity contexts and as other studies found new member states relatively well prepared in the preceding 2004–2006 financing period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The funds’ impact on convergence is controversial anyway (Bachtler and Gorzelak 2007: 313–315).

  2. 2.

    The Council Regulation will be in the following referred to as ‘CR’, together with the respective article quoted.

  3. 3.

    The MA can outsource some of its tasks to so-called intermediary bodies. These IBs then perform the tasks for the MA , however, the MA still remains ultimately responsible for implementation.

  4. 4.

    There are three different types of payments: pre-financing payments, interim payments, and the payment of the final balance. Pre-financing is spread over the first years of the financing period and set at a fixed level. The share of funding to be received differs between new and old member states as well as funds. For the new member states , pre-financing from the structural funds was set at 2% in both 2007 and 2009, and 3% in 2008 (CR Art. 82, 1b). The same accounts for the cohesion fund at 2.5% in 2007, and 4% in both 2008 and 2009 (CR Art. 82, 1e). The interim payments are usually studied when it comes to absorption . Interim payments are those funds reimbursed on the basis of actual implementation. They are therefore of prime interest to this study as they mean actual implementation on the ground. The final balance is 5% of the total allocation and is only paid after programme-closure (CR Art. 89).

  5. 5.

    They are not sufficient, however, as interim payments also depend on transmitting correct applications for reimbursement to the EC which need prior projects to be implemented.

  6. 6.

    Tasks of both the MA and CA may also be transferred partially to so-called intermediate bodies to perform their tasks. These intermediate bodies work, however, still under the general authority of the specific MA or CA (CR Art. 59, 2).

  7. 7.

    See McCann (2015: 64–65) for an overview of probably all existing studies of cohesion policy’s effectiveness.

  8. 8.

    Cyprus and Malta are (just like in most other post-accession studies) not considered in this analysis. Overall, the two island-nations are difficult to compare to the CEE countries when it comes to the challenges they face, especially with regard to their historical trajectories. In addition, Cyprus does not even receive convergence support from the EU , and is thus anyway no possible case.

  9. 9.

    The 2004 entrants to the EU could already participate for two years in the earlier financing period from 2004–2006.

  10. 10.

    Cohesion policy is implemented in distinct thematic operational programmes at the level of the member states. See Sect. 4.2 for a detailed discussion of why these 17 programmes were selected for analysis, and Sect. 4.3 on how the differentiation between successful and less successful programmes is established on the basis of qualitative and quantitative criteria.

  11. 11.

    Spendzharova and Versluis criticize, for example, that it is not possible to make a distinction between Spain and Bulgaria, even though qualitative evidence would strongly recommend doing so (Spendzharova and Versluis 2013: 1508).

  12. 12.

    Support for administrative capacities was also found in other fields of EU implementation studies. The expectation of a positive influence of high capacities on implementation success is (at least among other variables) confirmed by the majority of studies for transposition (Berglund et al. 2006: 706; Kaeding 2006: 244; Haverland and Romeijn 2007: 776; Toshkov 2007: 346; Spendzharova and Versluis 2013: 1512), practical implementation (Falkner et al. 2004: 459; Falkner et al. 2005: 302), and infringements (Mbaye 2001: 274; Perkins and Neumayer 2007: 198; Börzel et al. 2010: 1379; Börzel et al. 2012: 465), even if not always significant (König and Maeder 2013: 53; König and Mäder 2014: 257) or sufficient (but see Siegel 2006: 20; Thomson 2007: 1002; Milio 2008; Dimitrova and Toshkov 2009: 12; Steunenberg and Toshkov 2009: 964; Thomson 2010: 591 for no or negative results).

  13. 13.

    Tosun uses the percentage-change in GDP between 2007 and 2008 (Tosun 2014: 378). However, the crisis hit CEE countries most strongly in 2009. It is therefore likely that the crisis had not reached all countries yet and had only later an effect on their financial capacities (see Sect. 3.3 on this matter).

References

  • Bache, I. (2015). Cohesion Policy: A New Direction for New Times? In H. Wallace, M. Pollack, & A. R. Youn (Eds.), Policy-Making in the European Union (pp. 243–262). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachtler, J., & Gorzelak, G. (2007). Reforming EU Cohesion Policy: A Reappraisal of the Performance of the Structural Funds. Policy Studies, 28(4), 309–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bachtler, J., & Mendez, C. (2007). Who Governs EU Cohesion Policy? Deconstructing the Reforms of the Structural Funds. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 45(3), 535–564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachtler, J., Mendez, C., & Oraže, H. (2014). From Conditionality to Europeanization in Central and Eastern Europe: Administrative Performance and Capacity in Cohesion Policy. European Planning Studies, 22(4), 735–757.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, D., & De Propris, L. (2002a). The 1988 Reform of the European Structural Funds: Entitlement or Empowerment? Journal of European Public Policy, 9(3), 408–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, D., & De Propris, L. (2002b). EU Structural Funds, Regional Capabilities and Enlargement: Towards Multi-level Governance? Journal of European Integration, 24(4), 303–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balas, G., Kiss, G., & Borbas, G. (2013). Hungary. Expert Evaluation Network. Budapest: HEFTA Centre for Analyses. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/eval2007/2013_een_task2_hu.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Baun, M., & Marek, D. (2008). EU Cohesion Policy and Sub-national Authorities in the New Member States. Contemporary European Studies. Olomouc: Palacký University. Available at http://www.4europartners.cz/prezentace/Baun_Marek_EU_Cohesion_Policy_and_Sub-National_Authorities_in_the_New_Member_States.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Beichelt, T. (2004). Die Europäische Union nach der Osterweiterung. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund, S., Gange, I., & Van Waarden, F. (2006). Mass Production of Law. Routinization in the Transposition of European Directives: A Sociological-Institutionalist Account. Journal of European Public Policy, 13(5), 692–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blažek, J. (2011). Czech Republic. Expert Evaluation Network. Prague: Charles University. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/policy/evaluations/ec/2007-2013/#1. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Bloom, S., & Petrova, V. (2013). National Subversion of Supranational Goals: ‘Pork-Barrel’ Politics and EU Regional Aid. Europe-Asia Studies, 65(8), 1599–1620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boeckhout, S., Boot, L., Hollanders, M., Reincke, K.-J., & De Vet, J. M. (2002). Key Indicators for Candidate Countries to Effectively Manage the Structural Funds (Principal Report). Rotterdam: NEI Regional and Urban Development. Available at http://www.evaluace.cz/dokumenty/hodnot_zpr_eu/souhrnna_studie.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Börzel, T. A., Hofmann, T., & Panke, D. (2012). Caving in or Sitting It Out? Longitudinal Patterns of Non-compliance in the European Union. Journal of European Public Policy, 19(4), 454–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Börzel, T. A., Hofmann, T., Panke, D., & Sprungk, C. (2010). Obstinate and Inefficient: Why Member States Do Not Comply with European Law. Comparative Political Studies, 43(11), 1363–1390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Börzel, T. A., & Sedelmeier, U. (2017). Larger and More Law Abiding? The Impact of Enlargement on Compliance in the European Union. Journal of European Public Policy, 24(2), 197–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brosig, M. (2010). The Challenge of Implementing Minority Rights in Central Eastern Europe. European Integration, 32(4), 393–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzogány, A., & Korkut, U. (2013). Administrative Reform and Regional Development Discourses in Hungary. Europeanisation Going NUTS? Europe-Asia Studies, 65(8), 1555–1577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cace, C., Cace, S., & Nicolaescu, V. (2010). Management of the Structural Funds Within the Context of the Global Economic Crisis. Review of International Comparative Management, 11(1), 87–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Česká, Pozice. (2011). Billions in EU Funds May Go Up Dobeš’s Chimney (Published 5 April 2011). Available at http://ceskapozice.lidovky.cz/billions-in-eu-funds-may-go-up-dobes-s-chimney-fn4-/tema.aspx?c=A110404_121659_pozice_10614. Accessed 13 Feb 2016.

  • Chayes, A., Chayes, A. H., & Mitchell, R. B. (2000). Managing Compliance: A Comparative Perspective. In E. B. Weiss (Ed.) Engaging Countries: Strengthening Compliance with International Environmental Accords (pp. 39–62). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of Ministers. (2006, July 11). 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 (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1083/2006). Brussels: Council of the European Union. Available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32006R1083. Accessed 17 Mar 2014.

  • CZ. (2007). OP Environment 2007–2013. National Strategic Reference Framework. Prague: Ministry of Environment, Czech Republic. Available at http://en.opzp2007-2013.cz/ke-stazeni/515/5060/detail/the-operational-programme-environment—for-the-period-2007-2013/. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • CZ. (2014). Annual Report for 2013. Annual Implementation Report. Prague: Ministry of Environment, Czech Republic. Available at http://en.opzp2007-2013.cz/ke-stazeni/515/15731/detail/annual-report-op-environment-for-2013-incl-annexes/. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Dimitrova, A. L. (2010). The New Member States of the EU in the Aftermath of Enlargement: Do New European Rules Remain Empty Shells? Journal of European Public Policy, 17(1), 137–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimitrova, A. L., & Steunenberg, B. (2013). Living in Parallel Universes? Implementing European Movable Cultural Heritage Policy in Bulgaria. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 51(2), 246–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimitrova, A. L., & Toshkov, D. (2009). Post-accession Compliance Between Administrative Co-ordination and Political Bargaining. European Integration Online Papers, 13, Article 19. http://eiop.or.at/eiop/texte/2009-019a.htm. Accessed Jan 2016.

  • Ederveen, S., Gorter, J., de Mooij, R., & Nahuis, R. (2003). Funds and Games: The Economics of European Cohesion Policy (Occasional Paper No. 3). Brussels: ENEPRI. Available at http://aei.pitt.edu/1965/1/ENEPRI_OP3.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Epstein, R. A., & Sedelmeier, U. (2008). Beyond Conditionality: International Institutions in Postcommunist Europe After Enlargement. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(6), 795–805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2007). Cohesion Policy 2007–13: Commentaries and Official Texts. European Union Regional Policy. Brussels: European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional Policy. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/legislation/2007/cohesion-policy-2007-13-commentaries-and-official-texts. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • European Commission. (2013, April 18). Cohesion Policy: Strategic Report 2013. COM(2013) 210 final. Brussels: European Commission. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/how/policy/doc/strategic_report/2013/strat_report_2013_en.pdf. Accessed 15 Mar 2017.

  • European Commission. (2016). Analysis of the Budgetary Implementation of the Structural and Cohesion Funds in 2016 (Commission Staff Working Paper). Brussels: European Commission, Directorate-General Budget. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/budget/library/biblio/publications/2016/AnalysisOfTheEuropeanStructuralAndInvestmentFundsIn2016_en.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2018.

  • European Commission. (2017). Document for the Committee on Budgetary Control, European Parliament (Commission Staff Working Paper). Brussels: European Commission, Directorate-General Regional and Urban Policy. Available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/124722/Hearing%20Briefing_Absorption%20of%20funds%20July%202017%20resized%20with%20Adobe.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Falkner, G. (2010). Institutional Performance and Compliance with EU Law: Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. Journal of Public Policy, 30(1), 101–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falkner, G., Hartlapp, M., Leiber, S., & Treib, O. (2004). Non-compliance with EU Directives in the Member States: Opposition Through the Backdoor? West European Politics, 27(3), 452–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falkner, G., & Treib, O. (2008). Three Worlds of Compliance or Four? The EU-15 Compared to New Member States. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 46(2), 293–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkner, G., Treib, O., Hartlapp, M., & Leiber, S. (2005). Complying with Europe: EU Harmonisation and Soft Law in the Member States. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkner, G., Treib, O., & Holzleithner, E. (2008). Introduction: The Challenge of Implementation Research in the New Member States. In G. Falkner, O. Treib, & E. Holzleithner (Eds.), Compliance in the Enlarged European Union: Living Rights or Dead Letters (pp. 1–26). Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferry, M., & Kah, S. (2017). Research for REGI-Lessons Learnt from the Closure of the 2007–13 Programming Period. Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, K. (2013). Slovakia. Expert Evaluation Network. Bratislava: Slovak Academy of Sciences. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/eval2007/2013_een_task2_sk.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Gateva, E. (2013). Post-accession Conditionality—Translating Benchmarks into Political Pressure? East European Politics, 29(4), 420–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glusman, J. (2010). The Impact of Policy Implementation in Poland: Centralisation, Decentralisation and Recentralisation. In S. Milio (Ed.), From Policy to Implementation in the European Union: The Challenge of a Multi-level Governance System (pp. 149–174). London and New York: Tauris Academic Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grabbe, H. (2014). Six Lessons of Enlargement Ten Years On: The EU’s Transformative Power in Retrospect and Prospect. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 52(Annual Review), 40–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, M., & Debus, M. (2018). Does EU Regional Policy Increase Parties’ Support for European Integration? West European Politics, 41(3), 594–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grzebieluch, B. (2017). The Absorption of Structural and Cohesion Funds Under 2007–2013 Programming Period. European Parliament Briefing. Brussels: European Parliament, Policy Department D—Budgetary Affairs. Available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/124722/Hearing%20Briefing_Absorption%20of%20funds%20July%202017%20resized%20with%20Adobe.pdf. Accessed 20 June 2018.

  • Gwiazda, A. (2013). The Europeanisation of Regional Policy in Poland: Did Political Parties Make a Difference? East European Politics, 29(2), 226–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gyorine Szabo, G. (2014). How the Institutional System Charged with Regional Development Policy Actually Impact the Use of Cohesion Funds as Reflected by a Comparative Analysis of Poland and Hungary. European Scientific Journal, 10(19), 20–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartlapp, M., & Falkner, G. (2009). Problems of Operationalization and Data in EU Compliance Research. European Union Politics, 10(2), 281–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haughton, T. (2014). Money, Margins and the Motors of Politics: The EU and the Development of Party Politics in Central and Eastern Europe. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 52(1), 71–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haverland, M., & Romeijn, M. (2007). Do Member States Make European Policies Work? Analysing the EU Transposition Deficit. Public Administration, 85(3), 757–778.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horvat, A. (2005). Why Does Nobody Care About the Absorption? Some Aspects Regarding Administrative Absorption Capacity for the EU Structural Funds in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia Before Accession (WIFO Working Papers). Wien: Österreichisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung. Available at http://www.wifo.ac.at/jart/prj3/wifo/resources/person_dokument/person_dokument.jart?publikationsid=25750&mime_type=application/pdf. Accessed 29 May 2017.

  • Huszák, L. (2010). Der Wettbewerb der Regionen: regionale Unterschiede in der Absorption der EU-Fördermittel: Eine empirische Analyse. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ilie, L. (2011). Romania’s Roads to Nowhere (Special Report). Bucharest: Reuters. Available at http://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-infrastructure-idUSTRE74P0ZK20110526. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Joachim, J., Reinalda, B., & Verbeek, B. (2008). International Organizations and Implementation: Pieces of the Puzzle. In J. Joachim, B. Reinalda, & B. Verbeek (Eds.), International Organizations and Implementation: Enforcers, Managers, Authorities? (pp. 1–18). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaeding, M. (2006). Determinants of Transposition Delay in the European Union. Journal of Public Policy, 26(3), 229–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knill, C., & Tosun, J. (2009). Post-accession Transposition of EU Law in the New Member States: A Cross-Country Comparison. European Integration Online Papers, 13, Article 18. http://eiop.or.at/eiop/pdf/2009-018.pdf. Accessed Jan 2016.

  • König, T., & Mäder, L. (2013). Non-conformable, Partial and Conformable Transposition: A Competing Risk Analysis of the Transposition Process of Directives in the EU 15. European Union Politics, 14(1), 46–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • König, T., & Mäder, L. (2014). The Strategic Nature of Compliance: An Empirical Evaluation of Law Implementation in the Central Monitoring System of the European Union. American Journal of Political Science, 58(1), 246–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lackowska-Madurowicz, M., & Swianiewicz, P. (2013). Structures, Procedures and Social Capital: The Implementation of EU Cohesion Policies by Subnational Governments in Poland. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 37(4), 1396–1418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonardi, R. (2005). Cohesion Policy in the European Union: The Building of Europe. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Leonardi, R. (2006). Cohesion in the European Union. Regional Studies, 40(2), 155–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitz, P., & Pop-Eleches, G. (2010). Monitoring, Money and Migrants: Countering Post-accession Backsliding in Bulgaria and Romania. Europe-Asia Studies, 62(3), 461–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucaciu, L. O. (2012). Romania. Expert Evaluation Network. Bucharest: LIDEEA. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/eval2007/expert_innovation/2012_een_task2_ro.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Maniokas, K. (2009). Conditionality and Compliance in Lithuania: The Case of the Best Performer. European Integration Online Papers, 13, Article 20. http://eiop.or.at/eiop/pdf/2009-020.pdf. Accessed 5 Jan 2016.

  • Marek, D., & Baun, M. J. (2008). Conclusion. In M. J. Baun & D. Marek (Eds.), EU Cohesion Policy After Enlargement (pp. 248–269). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markovic Hribernik, T., Kirbiš, M., & Vek, U. (2008). Institutional Regulation and the Effectiveness of Absorbing EU Funds: The Experiences of Ireland, Estonia and Slovenia. Društvena istraživanja, 17(6), 1219–1239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mastenbroek, E., & Kaeding, M. (2007). Transcending the Goodness of Fit. Comparative European Politics, 5(3), 342–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastenbroek, E., & Keulen, M. (2006). Beyond the Goodness of Fit: A Preference-Based Account of Europeanization. In R. Holzhacker & M. Haverland (Eds.), European Research Reloaded: Cooperation and Integration Among Europeanized States (pp. 19–42). Wiesbaden: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mbaye, H. A. D. (2001). Why National States Comply with Supranational Law: Explaining Implementation Infringements in the European Union, 1972–1993. European Union Politics, 2(3), 259–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCann, P. (2015). The Regional and Urban Policy of the European Union: Cohesion: Results-Orientation and Smart Specialisation. Cheltenham and Northampton: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • McCubbins, M. D., & Schwartz, T. (1984). Congressional Oversight Overlooked: Police Patrols Versus Fire Alarms. American Journal of Political Science, 28(1), 165–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michelsen, J. (2008). A Europeanization Deficit? The Impact of EU Organic Agriculture Regulations on New Member States. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(1), 117–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milio, S. (2007). Can Administrative Capacity Explain Differences in Regional Performances? Evidence from Structural Funds Implementation in Southern Italy. Regional Studies, 41(4), 429–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milio, S. (2008). How Political Stability Shapes Administrative Performance: The Italian Case. West European Politics, 31(5), 915–936.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milio, S. (2010a). Multi-level Governance and Implementation Performance: Lessons from Italy. In S. Milio (Ed.), From Policy to Implementation in the European Union: The Challenge of a Multi-level Governance System (pp. 59–122). London and New York: IB Tauris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milio, S. (2010b). The Struggle to Implement European Union Policies: Political and Administrative Factors in the Member States. In S. Milio (Ed.), From Policy to Implementation in the European Union: The Challenge of a Multi-level Governance System (pp. 1–57). London and New York: IB Tauris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mungiu-Pippidi, A. (2007). Is East-Central Europe Backsliding? EU Accession is no ‘End of History’. Journal of Democracy, 18(4), 8–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noetzel, R., & Stumm, T. (1997). Factors Influencing the Spending of Structural Money. A Discussion at the European and Member State Level, with Special Regard to the European Regional Policy. Regional Policy Series. Luxembourg. Available at http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/factors-influencing-the-spending-of-structural-funds-money-pbQAREGIW24/. Accessed 9 Feb 2016.

  • Noutcheva, G., & Bechev, D. (2008). The Successful Laggards: Bulgaria and Romania’s Accession to the EU. East European Politics & Societies, 22(1), 114–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, R., & Neumayer, E. (2007). Do Membership Benefits Buy Regulatory Compliance? An Empirical Analysis of EU Directives 1978–99. European Union Politics, 8(2), 180–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popa, A. (2012). The Impact of the Structural Funds in the Transformation Process of the New EU Member States. L’Europe en Formation (Vol. 364, pp. 161–179). Brussels: Centre International de Formation Européenne, No. 364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pridham, G. (2007). Romania and EU Membership in Comparative Perspective: A Post-accession Compliance Problem?—The Case of Political Conditionality. Perspectives on European Politics and Society, 8(2), 168–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ram, M. H. (2012). Legacies of EU Conditionality: Explaining Post-accession Adherence to Pre-accession Rules on Roma. Europe-Asia Studies, 64(7), 1191–1218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regional Policy Glossary. (2015). Financial Corrections. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/what/glossary/f/financial-corrections. Accessed 11 July 2015.

  • RO. (2007). OP Transport 2007–2013. National Strategic Reference Framework. Bucharest: Ministry of Transport, Romania. Available at http://old.fonduri-ue.ro/res/filepicker_users/cd25a597fd-62/Doc_prog/prog_op/5_POST/2_POST_Eng.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • RO. (2009). Raportul Anual de Implementare 2008. Annual Implementation Report. Bucharest: Ministry of Transport, Romania.

    Google Scholar 

  • RO. (2013). Raportul Anual de Implementare 2012. Annual Implementation Report. Bucharest: Ministry of Transport, Romania.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAR. (2011). Morti de foame, cu banii in buzunar. Raport SAR. Bucharest: Societatea Academica din Romania. Available at http://sar.org.ro/morti-de-foame-cu-banii-in-buzunar-autoritatile-romane-sunt-depasite-de-sarcina-de-a-cheltui-15-milioane-euro-pe-zi/. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Sasse, G. (2008). The Politics of EU Conditionality: The Norm of Minority Protection During and Beyond EU Accession. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(6), 842–860.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherpereel, J. A. (2010). EU Cohesion Policy and the Europeanization of Central and East European Regions. Regional and Federal Studies, 20(1), 45–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schimmelfennig, F., & Winzen, T. (2017). Eastern Enlargement and Differentiated Integration: Towards Normalization. Journal of European Public Policy, 24(2), 239–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwellnus, G., Balázs, L., & Mikalayeva, L. (2009). It Ain’t Over When It’s Over: The Adoption and Sustainability of Minority Protection Rules in New EU Member States. European Integration Online Papers, 13, Article 24. http://eiop.or.at/eiop/pdf/2009-024.pdf. Accessed Jan 2016.

  • Sedelmeier, U. (2008). After Conditionality: Post-accession Compliance with EU Law in East Central Europe. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(6), 806–825.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sedelmeier, U. (2009). Post-accession Compliance with EU Gender Equality Legislation in Post-communist New Member States. European Integration Online Papers, 13, Article 23. http://eiop.or.at/eiop/texte/2009-023a.htm. Accessed Jan 2016.

  • Sedelmeier, U. (2012). Is Europeanisation Through Conditionality Sustainable? Lock-in of Institutional Change After EU Accession. West European Politics, 35(1), 20–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, S. N. (2006). Law and Order in the European Union: Explaining Variations in Compliance with the European Community Treaty (Discussion Paper SP IV 2006-303). Berlin: Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung. Available at http://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/11351/ssoar-2006-siegel-law_and_order_in_the.pdf?sequence=1. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Spendzharova, A., & Versluis, E. (2013). Issue Salience in the European Policy Process: What Impact on Transposition? Journal of European Public Policy, 20(10), 1499–1516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steunenberg, B., & Toshkov, D. (2009). Comparing Transposition in the 27 Member States of the EU: The Impact of Discretion and Legal Fit. Journal of European Public Policy, 16(7), 951–970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Šumpíková, M., Pavel, J., & Klazar, S. (2004, May 14). EU Funds: Absorption Capacity and Effectiveness of Their Use, with Focus on Regional Level in the Czech Republic. Paper presented at the The 12th NISPAcee Annual Conference ‘Central and Eastern European Countries Inside and Outside the European Union: Avoiding a New Divide’, Vilnius.

    Google Scholar 

  • Surubaru, N.-C. (2017). Administrative Capacity or Quality of Political Governance? EU Cohesion Policy in the New Europe, 2007–13. Regional Studies, 51(6), 844–856.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Terracciano, B., & Graziano, P. R. (2016). EU Cohesion Policy Implementation and Administrative Capacities: Insights from Italian Regions. Regional & Federal Studies, 26(3), 293–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Economist. (2014). Poland’s Second Golden Age: Europe’s Unlikely Star (Published 28 June 2014). Available at http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21605910-poland-just-had-best-25-years-half-millennium-its-transformation-remains. Accessed 20 Jan 2016.

  • Thomson, R. (2007). Time to Comply: National Responses to Six EU Labour Market Directives Revisited. West European Politics, 30(5), 987–1008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, R. (2009). Same Effects in Different Worlds: The Transposition of EU Directives. Journal of European Public Policy, 16(1), 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, R. (2010). Opposition Through the Back Door in the Transposition of EU Directives. European Union Politics, 11(4), 577–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toshkov, D. (2007). Transposition of EU Social Policy in the New Member States. Journal of European Social Policy, 17(4), 335–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toshkov, D., Knoll, M., & Wewerka, L. (2010). Connecting the Dots: Case Studies and EU Implementation Research (Working Paper No. 10/2010). Vienna: Institute for European Integration Research (EIF). Available at https://eif.univie.ac.at/downloads/workingpapers/wp2010-10.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2016.

  • Tosun, J. (2014). Absorption of Regional Funds: A Comparative Analysis. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 52(2), 371–387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treib, O. (2004). Die Bedeutung der nationalen Parteipolitik für die Umsetzung europäischer Sozialrichtlinien. Frankfurt and New York: Campus Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treib, O. (2014). Implementing and Complying with EU Governance Outputs. Living Reviews in European Governance, 9(1). http://www.europeangovernance-livingreviews.org/Articles/lreg-2011-1/ (cited version from August 2014).

  • Vachudova, M. A. (2005). Europe Undivided: Democracy, Leverage, and Integration After Communism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2015). World Bank Governance Indicators: Government Effectiveness. Available at http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi/pdf/ge.pdf. Accessed 20 Dec 2015.

  • Zhelyazkova, A., Kaya, C., & Schrama, R. (2017). Notified and Substantive Compliance with EU Law in Enlarged Europe: Evidence from Four Policy Areas. Journal of European Public Policy, 24(2), 216–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Christian Hagemann

Authors
  1. Christian Hagemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hagemann, C. (2019). The Puzzle of Absorption Problems in Central and Eastern Europe. In: EU Funds in the New Member States. Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02092-7_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation