Cohesion policy and cities: An ambivalent relationship

Atkinson, Robert; Zimmermann, Karsten

Abstract

Since the early 1990s the European Commission has launched several urban initiatives that were considered to be part of Cohesion policy. Initiatives such as URBAN I and URBAN II were widely accepted as successful urban programmes that helped cities to cope with challenges such as social exclusion and regeneration of deprived areas. We argue that although the notion of Integrated Sustainable Urban Development is prominent in the current Cohesion policy programmes and a predefined share of each Member State‘s ERDF funds must be invested in urban areas, the urban dimension has remains rather ‘fuzzy’ and ill-defined. It remains to be seen if the new instruments that are thought to provide for better coordination of sectorial policy and more ‘focused urban spending’ will be implemented by the Members States.

• Acceptance Date: Nov 10, 2015
• Publication Date: Aug 26, 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 5, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 413-426
• Book Title: Handbook on Cohesion Policy in the EU
• ISBN: 9781784715663
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784715670.00042
• Keywords: cities, EU, cohesion
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/916552
• Publisher URL: http://www.e-elgar.com/shop/handbook-on-cohesion-policy-in-the-eu
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is a draft chapter that has been published by Edward Elgar Publishing in Handbook on Cohesion Policy in the EU edited by Simona Piattoni and Laura Polverari published in 2016. The published version of the chapter can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781784715670.00042
• Contract Date: Oct 5, 2016