Original scientific paper
Did EU candidacy differentiation impact on the performance of pre-accession funds? A quantitative analysis of Western Balkan cases
Davide Denti
Abstract
After four years of implementation the EU funds for candidate countries, the Instrument for Pre-
Accession Assistance (IPA), has shown a mixed performance, resulting in a statistically limited level
of use of IPA funds in most target countries, though with some variance. This article intends to test
the hypothesis linking such a differentiation with the presence or absence of the official status of
candidate country. The analysis of the funds allocation levels, the funds absorption levels and the
progress in administrative reforms nevertheless shows that candidacy status is neither a sufficient
nor a necessary condition for a good IPA performance. Rather, the data show that the IPA funds
were able to catalyse a good progress only in those target countries characterised by an average
adaptation pressure, but not to spur laggards and frontrunners, recalling the hypothesis put forward
by Radaelli in his analysis of the outcomes of Europeanisation.
Keywords
Europeanisation; Western Balkans; Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance; EU candidate countries
Hrčak ID:
106413
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2013.
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