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Is the EU multi-level governance system weakening the implementation of policies at a state level? It does appear that a clear gap exists between European Union level policy-making and Member State implementation. All too often, EU public policy content and planning are little more than statements of intent without successful adoption. Policy implementation processes are the key follow-up of policy cycles, as they turn ideas into social output. Simona Milio argues that implementation deficiencies are a direct result of the multi-level structure of European governance. Italy, Spain and Poland a

International audience ; Why do some regions, after 15 years of receiving Structural Funds, still have difficulties in spending their allocated resources? Empirical evidence shows that Funds implementation rates have been very poor in Italy. However, investigating individual Italian Objective 1 regions, it appears that not all follow this general trend. We identify administrative capacity of the regional governments as an independent variable accounting for Structural Funds implementation variation. We introduce a novel definition of administrative capacity and using two regions as case studies we measure the degree of the existing capacity. The paper provides evidence to suggest that administrative capacity is positively correlated to implementation. Furthermore, we indicate the factors that might account for the different degree of capacity between these regions.

Why do some regions, after 15 years of receiving Structural Funds, still have difficulties in spending their allocated resources? Empirical evidence shows that Funds implementation rates have been very poor in Italy. However, investigating individual Italian Objective 1 regions, it appears that not all follow this general trend.
We identify administrative capacity of the regional governments as an independent variable accounting for Structural Funds implementation variation. We introduce a novel definition of administrative capacity and using two regions as case studies we measure the degree of the existing capacity. The paper provides evidence to suggest that administrative capacity is positively correlated to implementation. Furthermore, we indicate the factors that might account for the different degree of capacity between these regions.

A tension between (richer) contributing Member States and (poorer) recipient Member States has always characterised the history of the budget of the European Union, the politics of which has often turned fraught. Alongside traditional tensions, newer ones have emerged, including the effect of EU enlargement in 2004-7, which has increased demand on spending, and the effect of the post-2008 economic crises, which has likewise increased demand for spending though faced by conflicting demands for austerity. Finally, the Lisbon Treaty reinforces the power to block agreement on reform to the budget. With the EU due to announce a new budget in 2013, this volume evaluates the prospects for major change to expenditure and the structure of the budget for the period starting in 2014.

This paper explores the linkages between pre-2008 crisis national macro-economic conditions, regional resistance factors and depth of the crisis in the regions of the EU27. The results suggest that only a limited set of macro-economic factors shape the regional reaction to the crisis. A healthy current account surplus is associated with stronger economic performance during the post-2008 recession. Conversely, high public debt countries are more successful in sheltering their regional economies in the short-run. When looking at regional-level resistance, human capital is the single most important positive factor. Conversely, research and development-intensive regions are more exposed to negative shocks.