The Impact of EU Cohesion Policy in Sweden - Chances and Challenges

Abstract: The paper identifies the effects of the adoption of EU cohesion policy in Sweden, namely a significant involvement of subnational actors within designing and implementing the policy, a stimulated activity of regional authorities, a relationship between the different administrative levels mainly characterised by cooperation and dialogue and the increasing importance of flexible, inclusive, network-like arrangements for collaboration in Sweden. Swedish regions make increasingly use of opportunities provided by the Structural Funds, not just in terms of funding, but also of gaining experiences and competences, though differences among the counties and municipalities exist. The study concludes by confirming several assumptions of the theoretical concept of an emerging system of Multi-level Governance, which, to some extent offers a suitable metaphor for the case of cohesion policy in Sweden.