Monitoring EU Structural Funds Expenditure in the Member States

Through EU Structural Funds (SF) allocations, new member states are receiving large sums of development assistance, offering a historical chance for ‘catching up’ with the wealthier countries of the continent. Despite the evident importance of the topic, research on SF impacts, particularly with respect to the new member states, is quite scarce.  Based on an earlier study of SF monitoring in Hungary, this project, funded by a research grant from the CEU, focused on mapping the modalities of funds distribution, particularly in terms of a potential change in practices of consultation and civil society involvement in development policy planning and implementation. This was done through interviewing members of the so-called monitoring committees (MCs) member states are obliged to set up for operational programmes. The study looked at MCs in Hungary and Slovakia as well as Austria, a country which having had a longer experience with funds management provides a useful control case to the two new member states. The outcome of the project is a CPS working paper and a journal article.