Evaluation of benefits to the EU-15 countries resulting from the implementation of cohesion policy in the Visegrad Group countries

EU cohesion funding for the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (ie Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland) has benefited the economies of the EU15 countries, according to research carried out for the Polish Ministry of Regional Development. The study found that EU cohesion funding had increased consumer, investment and intermediate demand in the V4 countries. This increased demand concerned to a large extent concerns goods and services from EU countries. 1$ spent by EU15 countries resulted in 61 cents of additional exports to the V4 countries. The study also looked at the benefits in terms of research and development, innovation, environmental protection and transport.