Implementation of the EU pre-accession aid in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The thesis we are presenting is devoted to a highly actual issue of the Czech reality: preparation of the Czech Republic for integration in the system of Structural Funds of the European Union. This issue belongs currently to the most frequently discussed topics related to the future membership of the Czech Republic in the European Union. It is the more important that it has palpable impacts already before the accession: the Czech Republic can benefit from the EU budget today already in the framework of the so-called pre-structural funds. Many institutions as well as regions in the Czech Republic have had the opportunity to come in touch with the solidarity principle promoted in the EU. After the accession to the EU, the Czech Republic will be entitled to receive from the Structural Funds about six-fold support than it receives today from the pre-structural funds. The principal objective of the research project was: to explore the experience of the Czech actors of regional development with the EU assistance and the state of their preparedness for the Structural Funds, all on the basis of a good understanding of the background given by the EU assistence and the Czech regional policy.