International Conference on “The Impact of EU Structural Funds on Greece (1981-2019): Successes, Failures, Lessons learned and Comparisons with other EU members” University of the Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece 30-31 August, 2019 Friday, 30 August 9.00-10.00 Reception of participants 10.00 Welcome speeches by the Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations, Associate Prof. Nikos Tzifakis and the JMCE Academic Coordinator Prof. Panagiotis Liargovas 10.30-12.30 Panel 1 Governance, Administration and Institutional Design Coordinator Assistant Prof. Manos Papazoglou 1) “Managing ESF resources from 1981 to 2019: The EU Auditors’ point of view” Dimitrios Skiadas, Prof., University of Macedonia, Jean Monnet Chair Holder 2) “Social policies & Internal Market in EU Public Procurement” 1 Evanthia Savvidi, LLM, PhD cand., Greek Ombusdman. 3) "Policy, institutional and organizational learning through European Territorial Cooperation networks: lessons from Greece” Maria Fysekidou, PhD, Advisor, Ministry of Public Reconstruction 4) “The impact of the European Union on reforming the Greek governance: subnational mobilisation in comparative perspective” George Oikonomou, PhD, Adjunct Lecturer/Academic Scholar, University of the Peloponnese. 12.30-12.45 Coffee break 12.45-14.30 Panel 2 Economic Growth and EU funding Coordinator Prof. Panagiotis Liargovas 5) “The impact of the cohesion policy on competitiveness and innovativeness of the Polish regions” Małgorzata Dziembała, Prof. UE (Ph.D. with habilitation, Associate professor), University of Economics in Katowice 6) “Financial instruments for the support of SMEs: The case of the Entrepreneurship Fund” Thanassis Argyriou, George Labrinidis, Timotheos Rekkas, Ministry of Economy and Development 7) “The Recession and its Impact on the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece – Present Situation and Developmental Prospects” Panagiotis D. Koudoumakis, Civil Engineer MSc, PhD, Democritus University of Thrace Co-authors: George N. Botzoris, Angelos L. Protopapas, Vassilios A. Profillidis, Democritus University of Thrace 14.30.16.30 Lunch break 16.30-18.30 Roundtable debate EU budget and the Future of Cohesion policy Discussants Professors Asteris Huliaras, Panagiotis Liargovas, Dimitris Skiadas, Fotini Papoudakis 2 Saturday, 31 August. Parallel Sessions 10.00-13.00 Panel 3 Regions and EU funding Panel Coordinator Prof. Asteris Huliaras 8) “Administrative Capacity-Building in the Context of EU Cohesion Policy: Insights from the Greek Regions” Fotini Papoudaki, Prof. Department of Business and Public Administration, University of the Peloponnese 9) “The Impact of EU Structural Funds: North, South, East perspectives” Anastassios Chardas, Assistant Prof., Democritus University of Thrace and Mariska van der Giessen (University of Leuwaarden, Netherlands, Zoltán Pogátsa (University of Sopron, Hungary) 10) “Politics and management of Structural Funds: diachronic problems and current challenges Greece-EU: An old and tested relationship.” Eleni Chytopoulou, PhD cand., University of the Peloponnese 10.00 am-13.00pm Panel 4 Public Policies and EU Funding Coordinator Assistant Prof. Sotiris Petropoulos 11) “Renewable energy and EU Structural Funds: National or regional funding allocation?” Panagiotis Liargovas, Prof. Department of Economics, University of the Peloponnese. Co-authors: Nikolaos Apostolopoulos, , Elena Rokou and Konstantinos Chalvatzi 12) “Building a stronger Europe. EU cultural policies European Capitals of Culture. Successes, Failures and Lessons of the Greek case.” Georgia Manolopoulou, PhD cand. in Cultural Diplomacy, University of the Peloponnese and Ministry of Culture/Archaeological Museum of Patras. 13) “Coherence of adult learning policies in different levels and types” 3 Zoe Karanikola, PhD, Technological Educational Institution of Western Greece. Co-author Dr Georgios Panagiotopoulos 14) “Public Policy and local governance for sustainable development synergies in Greece: the topic of responsible entrepreneurship in regions and the role of European Structural Funds during 2014-2020 period.” Evangelos Taliouris, PhD, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy and Administration Hellenic Open University / Highest Technological Institute of Crete. 10.00-13.00 Panel 5 Results and Management of EU funding Coordinator Prof. Fotini Papoudaki 15) "Outsourcing EU Funds Management in Greece: The role of Commercial Consultants" Asteris Huliaras Prof. Department of Politics and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese and Nikos Zaharis, Director, SEERC/University of Sheffield 16) “EU Structural Funds and Public Governance Reform in Greece: The real impact beyond the statistics and the political rhetoric” Sifis Plimakis, PhD, Post – doctoral Researcher, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese 17) “New techniques for the evaluation of projects may improve the impact of EU Funds (Case Study: Artificial Neural Networks) Theofanis Papadopoulos, PhD cand., Harokopion University of Athens. 18) “From rhetoric to implementation: the governance of Cohesion Policy from 2020 onwards.” Dimitris Skalkos, PhD cand., University of the Peloponnese. 10.00-13.00 Panel 6 EU funding and Public Policies 4 19) "EUSF and Social Cohesion in Greece: the role of anti-poverty structures and non-profits" Sotiris Petropoulos, Assistant Prof., Department of Politics and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese 20) “EU funds, the refugee crisis and the Greek NGO Sector” Anastasios Valvis, PhD, Post-Doc researcher, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese. 21) “Governance and Policy making for social economy and capital improvement in European Social Funds 2014-2020 period: social entrepreneurship as a framework for stakeholders’ synergies, employment creation and corporate social responsibility.” Evangelos Taliouris, PhD, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy and Administration Hellenic Open University and Highest Technical Educational Institute Co-author: Stylianos Ioannis Tzagkarakis. 22) “European cohesion policy in Southern Europe: The Greek case in a comparative perspective” Stylianos Ioannis Tzagkarakis, Postdoctoral researcher and researcher of the Centre for Human Rights (KEADIK), University of Crete, Visiting research fellow, University of the Peloponnese. Co-author: Ilias Pappas, PhD cand., University of Crete 14.00.15.00 Lunch break 15.00-17.00 Conclusions 5 .