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This paper quantifies the impact of grants from EUfunds on non-financial corporations performance in Croatia. For the purposes of the research, three different data sources were used, which were merged into a single enterprise level database. Enterprises for the control group were selected using propensity score matching method, while the quantifications of effects in the years after receiving the support were estimated using difference in differences method. Also, the doseresponse relationship between the relative size of the received grant and the level of impact on performance indicators was assessed. The research showed that the use of EU funds has a strong and positive effect on the observed indicators, such as employment, operating income, labour productivity or total factor productivity and capital intensity. At the same time, the level of impact significantly depends on the relative size of grant received from EU funds.

Nacionalni sustavi koji omogućavaju neometano upravljanje i efikasnu implementaciju fondova regionalne (kohezijske) politike EU, presudni su za uspjeh korištenja te politike u pojedinoj državi EU. Med strok signutim, prostor za raznolikost u implementaciji i upravljanju regionalnom politikom EU je velik. Stoga se nacionalna iskustva razlikuju zbog brojnih faktora, poput intenziteta i tipa EU financiranja, koherentnosti područja u koja se sredstva fondova EU usmjeravaju te relativne snage nacionalne administracije. Stoga sustavi implementacije mogu znatno odstupati med strok signu državama, a prikupljanje i obrada podataka za potrebe ovoga rada znatno je otežana zbog nejednake trensparentnosti i dostupnosti podataka o arhitekturi nacionalnih institucionalnih sustava upravljanja fondovima EU. Rezultati istraživanja u ovom radu pokazali su da sustavi (arhitektura) upravljanja fondovima regionalne politike EU med strok signu državama nisu identični zbog cijelog niza faktora. Med strok signutim, u analiziranim državama u ovom radu prisutne su i sličnosti, što je dijelom posljedica prijenosa iskustava med strok signu državama. Stoga rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je moguće definirati optimalan i funkcionalan nacionalni sustav upravljanja fondovima regionalne politike EU, temeljen na iskustvima usporedivih država te ga primijeniti i na Hrvatsku. S obzirom da se nalazimo na samom početku nove financijske perspektive EU (2021. - 2027.), kada se po državama članicama EU definiraju sustavi upravljanja fondovima EU za novu financijsku perspektivu, a objavljenih radova/istrživanja koji bi bili podloga takvim odlukama i na razini Hrvatske nema, time je

The modern global market presents increasing challenges before entrepreneurs to find an effective set of marketing activities and communication channels. In today's conditions of high supply and demand, customers' activities connected with looking for bidders in the multitude of offers need to be timely and well targeted. Flexible offer creation and fast and innovative offer to potential customers are the key to a successful marketing activity. It is a special opportunity for micro and small businesses that possess significant flexibility in launching marketing activities as opposed to complex processes and multiple levels of management within large enterprises. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a significant step towards online commerce, online platforms and other forms of product and service promotion. Nowadays, it is possible to use EU funds to help entrepreneurs, since these tenders also include the financing of marketing activities. The paper analyses tenders announced so far, including the financing of marketing activities of the company, all for the purpose of promotion and greater visibility. In addition to promotion, funding through the funds also includes online activities such as online commerce, online promotion etc., which were of significant assistance to companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subject and purpose of work: The subject-matter of this paper are local government investments and their role in local development. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the use of EU funds for the implementation of local investments on the example of the Włodawa town and the Włodawa rural commune. Investments are evaluated in the context of development strategies being pursued for these units. Materials and methods: The paper is based on the literature of the subject of research and our own surveys among randomly chosen inhabitants. Results: This paper specifies the role of local government investments in local development and presents an outline of the development of the Włodawa town, the current state of the town and the commune and an outline of the strategy of development of these units. We have analysed investments carried out with the support of EU funds in the years 2007–2014 and 2014–2020. The co-operation between governments of the town and the commune in the pursuit of investments has been evaluated, too. In the opinion of inhabitants, governments of the town and the commune used EU funds quite efficiently in development projects. The important role of these funds in the pursuit of investments regarding the repair and construction of roads, the revitalisation of cultural facilities and recreation, has been confirmed. Conclusions: The need for the further support of investments within the scope of the labour market, social infrastructure and tourism.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2024 9(3), 1198-1215 | Article | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. – II. The administrative law perspective: the system of controls on EU funds in Poland. – II.1. Guidelines for operational programmes – soft or hard law: that is the question. – III. Protection of EU financial interests in Poland from a criminal law perspective. – III.1. Can the EU’s financial interests be effectively protected without cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office? – IV. Conclusion. | (Abstract) Over the coming years, EU Member States will be spending funds from the largest package in the EU’s history, which consists of funds relating to the Multiannual Financial Framework (2021–2027) and the Recovery Plan. One of the main challenges Member States face is the protection of the EU’s financial interests, which can be ensured, among other things, by seeking to eliminate fraud committed in the spending of these funds. Unfortunately, in recent years, Poland has been one of the countries that have detected and reported to the European Commission the greatest number and value of irregularities and fraud. Therefore, the fundamental question is whether the solutions adopted in Poland regarding administrative and criminal procedures to fight fraud in using EU funds are effective. This Article aims to identify the main critical points in the solutions adopted in Poland to protect EU financial interests in administrative and criminal law. Furthermore, based on research in the BETKOSOL project, specific recommendations will also be formulated that can contribute to increasing the effectiveness of the spending.

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings (IEEBs) is crucial to achieving the European Union’s ambitious climate and energy goals. To channel these efforts, new policies, legislation, sources of funding, mechanisms for distributing funds, programs, and support tools are being introduced. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the effects of the disbursement of EU Cohesion Policy 2014–2020 funds on IEEBs in Poland and Germany, filling the research gap regarding the regional differentiation of investments, beneficiaries, and the spatial distribution of subsidies and projects. An analysis was made of 7818 projects on IEEBs implemented under regional operational programs from European Regional Development Funds under Thematic Objective 4. This research was conducted for two main variables: (1) beneficiaries (8 categories) and (2) investments (8 categories). Based on this division, using a cluster analysis through the use of Ward’s agglomerative hierarchical clustering method, groupings were made in relation to beneficiaries (6 groups) and investments (6 group). The results allowed us to identify regional differences and similarities in the approach to the disbursement of funds on IEEBs, to indicate the main beneficiaries, to highlight trends in this regard, to demonstrate the impact of changes in territorial affiliation on investment targeting, and, furthermore, to capture the variation in the sophistication of the implementation of EU IEEB-related policies and legislation. The results provide a well-documented voice in the discussion of the effects of distributing EU funds for IEEBs in the regions of Poland and Germany and provide a basis for further comparative research.

Local investments for the development of renewable energy sources (RESs) constitute an important element of sustainable rural development. They are conducive to the social and economic development of the said areas, and improve the environmental values and living conditions of their inhabitants. However, such advancement in rural areas is not possible without adequate financial support, including the funds from the EU budget. Therefore, the main objective of the research is to assess the scale, scope and importance of local investments in renewable energy sources in rural areas of Poland in 2014–2020, cofinanced from EU funds. The study covered 1117 projects, whose beneficiaries were rural and urban–rural municipalities. Evaluation of the municipal investment activities in acquiring EU subsidies in the area of environmentally friendly energy was conducted using selected methods of descriptive statistics and the analysis of variance. Subsequently, with the use of logistic regression, the study identified the main socioeconomic, financial and environmental conditions of the investment activities of the local government entities in RES in rural areas. Empirical studies allowed for the positive verification of the research hypothesis, which assumed that “The highest investment activity in the field of local projects co-financed from EU funds, related to the development of RES in rural areas, may be attributed to municipalities performing primarily agricultural functions, located in Eastern Poland”. The municipalities’ own income potential and investment activity are of major importance for the acquisition of EU funds used in RES financing. Municipalities at a lower development level demonstrated a greater activity in accessing these funds. They view the development of RES as an opportunity for accelerated growth.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2024 9(3), 1180-1197 | Article | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. – II. Protecting European financial interests moving beyond the assimilation principle: some examples and their implications from the criminal law perspective. – III. “Beyond” or “below” the assimilation principle with the NRRP? The administrative law point of view. – III.1. Are European standards steering the national ones for the protection of public financial interest? The system of controls regarding EU funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. – III.2. Administrative Judicial Review: a fast track for NRRP plans, projects and procedures? – IV. Final remarks. | (Abstract) The aim of this Article is to demonstrate that a number of regulatory measures within the Italian legal system go “beyond” the assimilation principle. These measures not only adhere to the founding treaties of the European Union, which state that the financial interests of the Union must be protected using the same instruments (or at least equally effective mechanisms) as those safeguarding national financial interests, but they also impose, in some cases, stronger control systems and harsher penalties regarding European resources than those applied to national funds. In this paper, we argue that these new regulatory changes may not only offer potential benefits in terms of efficiency but may also pose risks that must be addressed in anticipation of future developments in the interaction between the European institutions and the EU Member States in managing public funds.

The main aim of the research was to assess Polish rural municipalities’ investment activity connected with the development of a low-carbon economy, supported with EU funds in the 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 financial frameworks. The empirical study was based on data from Poland’s Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Ministry of Finance, and Statistics Poland, analysed through basic descriptive statistics and a logistic model to identify key factors influencing investment activity. The study showed that the greatest number of agreements on funding were, in fact, signed by rural municipalities in the period under analysis. The predominant measures undertaken during this time were the promotion of renewable energy sources and the improvement in energy efficiency. In the earlier financial framework, low-carbon economy projects in rural areas were more often implemented by municipalities with developing demographic potential, including those characterised by a higher level of enterprise development. In the subsequent financial framework, human capital turned out to be of key importance for the investment activity of rural municipalities. Experience gained from 2007–2013 positively influenced fund absorption in 2014–2020, improving project value, number, and support. The study confirmed that rural municipalities play a vital role in advancing a low-carbon economy, as local actions are key to achieving sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Serious violations of the rule of law occurring in Hungary from 2010 to the present, as well as in Poland from 2015 to December 2023, have become a threat to the financial interests of the European Union (EU). The ongoing process of limiting the independence of the justice system in these countries has reduced the possibilities of national supervision over the correctness of spending of EU funds. The article aims to analyze and assess the effectiveness of regulations and the actions of the EU institutions undertaken since 2016 to defend the rule of law in the Member States, in particular in regarding Poland and Hungary. Main attention is paid to the financial tools used to protect the rule of law, including the mechanism resulting from the Regulation 2020/2092 of December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the EU budget.