Abstract

Does the perception of the EU vary across countries and regions? To what extent has the support for European integration and citizens’ attitudes towards the EU in regions with different socio-economic contexts evolved? Are they affected by the Cohesion Policy? More specifically, does the perception of the EU vary with the intensity of the policy in the region and with the effectiveness in which the funds allocated are finally spent? Is there a relationship between the deviation in funds’ allocations and actual expenditures, and the socio-economic characteristics of the region? Finally, are citizens in growing and, particularly, converging regions more prone to support the European project and have positive attitudes towards the EU?