CALL FOR PAPERS

An International Conference

“The Impact of EU Structural Funds on Greece (1981-2019):
Successes, Failures, Lessons learned and Comparisons with other EU members”

University of the Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece

30-31 August, 2019

Over the last forty years, the EU Structural Funds (EUSF) have financed thousands of projects in the EU. Brussels has commissioned a large number of ex- ante, ex-itinere and ex-post evaluation studies to assess EUSF direct impact. In contrast to EU evaluation studies whose timespan is usually limited to a 5-year programming period, several academic studies have analyzed the medium-to longer- term impact of EU financial transfers on economic growth. However, in both Community-sponsored and academic evaluations, the impact of the Structural Funds remains a largely economic issue – it’s no wonder then that the terms employed in the relevant studies are efficiency, income, convergence and growth. Thus,important long-term political aspects remain on the sidelines.

The International Conference aims at directing cutting-edge multi- disciplinary research with regard to issues of governance and economic efficiency over the management of EUSF. It welcomes papers with sound arguments and rich empirical findings that draw on comparative and diachronic assessments of the relevant issues that may highlight important aspects of the Greek case.

It is organized by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Governance (JMCE Gov) and will be hosted at the University of Peloponnese in its premises in Corinth (Department of Political Science and International Relations). The JMCE Gov, funded by the Erasmus+ program of the EU, acts as a facilitator of debate, research, knowledge and capacity-building vis-à-vis specific target groups within academia, civil society and civil administration staff. Since 2016 it has successfully organized multiple high-level academic and training activities regarding EU Structural Funds related issues.

The following main topics are expected to become the foci of papers in particular:

• Beyond absorption: Assessing the varying impact of EUSF
• Public policies and EU priorities: Streamlining objectives and policy-learning
• The real growth impact of EUSF
• Politics and management of Structural Funds: Diachronic problems and current challenges
• Comparative perspectives
• Public administration organization and functions: What is the impact of EUSF management?

Moreover, in the context of the International Conference a roundtable event will take place on the topic of “EU budget and the Future of Cohesion policy”, which is expected to further stimulate the debate over the coming challenges in the field and lessons received from past experience.

The Organising Committee consists of:

• Prof. P. Liargovas, University of the Peloponnese, Jean Monnet Academic Coordinator),
• Prof.  Ast. Huliaras, University of the Peloponnese, Jean Monnet Chair holder),
• Associate Prof. N. Tzifakis, University of the Peloponnese, Key Jean Monnet Research Participant
• Assistant  Professor, Manos Papazoglou, University of the Peloponnese, Conference coordinator, Key Jean Monnet Research Participant,
• Assistant Professor Sotirios Petropoulos, University of the Peloponnese, Key Jean Monnet Research Participant,
• Lecturer Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, University of Plymouth, Key Jean Monnet Research Participant.

Please, submit abstracts of about 250 words with your name, title and affiliation to the conference administrative coordinator, Ms. Eleni Georgoulia (jmce@uop.gr), by 15 May 2019, 31 May 2019. The organizers expect to inform participants of the acceptance of their papers by 31 May 2019, 10 June 2019.

[color-box color="white"]A limited number of travel grants will be available for participants with a high quality submission.[/color-box]

The Conference organizers expect to publish one edited volume from selected papers presented at the Conference. Participants will be invited after the Conference to submit an extended and enhanced version of their papers for possible publication.

For any further information please contact the conference administrative coordinator, Ms. Eleni Georgoulia (elenigeorgoulia@uop.gr), or to the conference coordinator Assistant Professor Dr. Manos Papazoglou (epapaz@uop.gr).