EU Cohesion Policy can't buy me love? Exploring the regional determinants of EU image

Journal article (2019)

Authors

M.M. Dabrowski Spatial Planning and Strategy - Architecture and the Built Environment
D. Stead Spatial Planning and Strategy - Architecture and the Built Environment
B. Mashhoodi Environmental Technology and Design - Architecture and the Built Environment
Research Group
Spatial Planning and Strategy (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 M.M. Dabrowski, D. Stead, B. Mashhoodi
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12237
Cohesion policy EU image European structural and investment funds
More Info
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Department

Urbanism

Research Group

Spatial Planning and Strategy

Abstract

By investing in the development of European territories, EU Cohesion Policy can be expected to have a positive impact on the citizens' views on the European Union. Whether and how the policy actually affects what people think about the EU remains unclear. This paper explores a range of regional determinants of EU image, from socio-economic to territorial factors and the intensity of EU Cohesion Policy funding, based on the data available for 2008–2015 period. It finds a positive relation between the size of the regional European Structural and Investment Funds' allocation and less negative EU image, while highlighting how a declining regional economic situation fuels more negative views on the EU. It also reveals that lower level of education and higher migration have a strong influence on negative EU image, albeit only in some European regions.