REDISTRIBUTION AS A TOOL FOR SUPPORT? When does Cohesion Policy foster EU support

Abstract

Cohesion Policy is a vital part of the EU since it makes up about a third of the yearly EU budget. By taking up a third of the budget, it would also be wishful to think that the Cohesion Policy would have some impact on the EU citizens’ perceptions about the EU. However, the current literature about Cohesion Policy and its potential effect on support is very inconclusive. There is also lack of research regarding the specific funds of Cohesion Policy and about the funds potential different effects on citizens’ perception of the EU. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the specific effect of each of the funds of Cohesion Policy and support for EU and European integration. By examining the funds specific effect on support for EU and European integration, by including an interaction effect about citizens’ awareness. The result of this thesis goes against a majority of the research advocating for the importance of awareness in the effect of support in the relation with the funds. The thesis also finds very little support regarding the fund's potential explanation in citizens’ support for EU and European integration.