Please find the complete syllabus and latest info in Moodle: https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=3329

Aim of the Course
The aim of the course is to explain the history and current developments in EU Cohesion Policy, help students understand the principles and tools of the Policy and debate its results and challenges in CEE countries, reflection of the Policy in CEE societies.

Programme

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN 2022 THE FIRST LECTURE IS ON 11TH OCTOBER.

* 1. Introduction, Distribution of Presentation Topics, Introduction to common policies of the European Union
* 2. History of EU Cohesion Policy, Regional Problems and Disparities, Reasons for Cohesion Policy, Aims and Means of Cohesion Policy in European Communities’ history
"What are the Structural Funds? A powerful tool of regional development, or a useless redistribution mechanism, alms for the poor and a space for fraud and corruption?"
* 3. Cohesion Policy Reforms, Enlargement of the EU (concepts of enlargement, widening and deepening of the EU), The 2004 Enlargement, Impact of the 2004/2007 Enlargements on Cohesion Policy
"Was the 2004 enlargement a hazardous risk or a well-planned step?"
* 4. Basic Principles of EU Cohesion Policy (concentration, programming, partnership, additionality, subsidiarity, transparency), Decision-making in Cohesion Policy, Economic Aspects, Budgeting
"Is the decision-making process in the field of cohesion policy transparent and democratic?"
* 5. Tools of EU Cohesion Policy - Overview, Cohesion Policy in the 2021 - 2027 Programming Period (I.) - ESIF (European Structural and Investment Funds)
"Are the priorities of Structural Funds for 2014-2020 reasonable?"
* 6. Cohesion Policy in the 2021 - 2027 Programming Period (II.) - Community programmes and other funding programmes beyond ESIF
"Do the Community programmes deserve a higher share of funding compared to ESI Funds?"
* 7. Financial Mechanisms available for CEE countries besides EU funding
"Swiss and Norwegian Funds, Visegrád Fund and others - duplicating or complementing EU Funds?"
* 8. EU Funds in the Czech Republic, Specific Aspects of Cohesion Policy implementation in the Czech Republic, Differences in the Use of EU Funds in EU-15 and in the "New" Member States
"Are the Structural Funds used effectively in the Czech Republic?"
* 9. EU Funds in Candidate Countries, IPA
"Is the pre-accession aid effective?"
* 10. Hands-on experience – submitting a project application; Case Studies - Analysis of a Particular Problems of Regional Development in Selected Regions in CEE Countries
"Finding feasible theoretical approaches to Cohesion Policy"
"Finding examples of good and bad practices in CEE countries"
* 11. Cohesion Policy and Society - media coverage, key cases in CEE, Key Problems in Structural Funds Implementation in CEE
"Facts or myths dominant in CEE media coverage of Cohesion Policy?"
* 12. The Future of Europe’s Regional Policy: Cohesion Policy in the 2021+ Programming Period, Prospects of CEE Countries
"What can we expect from ongoing reforms of Cohesion Policy with regards to CEE-specific situation?"
"Will Cohesion Policy survive Brexit?"