This report was directed by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, with guidance from Dorothée Allain-Dupré, Head of the Multi-level Governance and Regional Development Division in CFE. It was co-ordinated by Yingyin Wu (CFE) and supervised by Maria Varinia Michalun, Head of the Governance and Strategic Planning Unit in CFE, and Daniel Gerson, Head of the Public Employment and Management Unit in the OECD Directorate for Public Governance (GOV). The report was written by Alexis Durand (CFE), Dónal Mulligan (GOV), François Villeneuve (GOV) and Yingyin Wu (CFE). It features substantial input from Alina Dragos (expert), Janis Jurgeleit (CFE), Maria Varinia Michalun (CFE) and Daniel Gerson (GOV). Alina Dragos and Janis Jurgeleit significantly contributed to the empirical analysis in the report. Katarína Dubajova (CFE) and Jiin Lee (CFE) supported the development of the infographic. Comments from Gwendaline Jossec (CFE) and Miquel Vidal Bover (CFE) are greatly acknowledged. The report also greatly benefited from the insights of Professor John Bachtler of the European Policies Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The comments received from the delegates of the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee are gratefully acknowledged.
The OECD extends its warm thanks to the staff, project teams and stakeholders of the six managing authorities for their input and dynamic contributions to this project: the Managing Authority of Corsica ERDF-ESF+ Regional Programme in France; Managing Authority of Emilia-Romagna ERDF Regional Programme in Italy; Managing Authority of Programme Technical Assistance for European Funds in Poland; Managing Authority of Programme Sustentável 2030 in Portugal; Managing Authority of North-East Regional Programme in Romania; and Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat of Danube Region Programme.
The OECD also thanks the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) Unit E1 – Administrative Capacity Building, European Solidarity Fund and the relevant geographic units. Special gratitude is extended to Ann-Kerstin Myleus, Deputy Head of Unit of DG REGIO Unit E1, for her dedication and invaluable insights on administrative capacity building which have enriched this project, along with best wishes for a fulfilling retirement.
Jack Waters (CFE) led the process of preparing the manuscript and the cover page for publication. Romy de Courtay edited the report.