The three essays of this dissertation contribute to the measurement of European economic integration and investigate the welfare effects of the European countries. The first study presents a newly developed index – the EU Index – which measures the extent of economic integration into the...

After 15 years of EU cohesion policy, implemented through National Development Plans (NDPs) and Structural Funds (SFs), economists remain divided on interpretations of policy effectiveness. As new member states prepare for the next programme of EU cohesion aid, it is important to review this...

The European Union project is strongly challenged today by the historical decision of United Kingdom’s citizens to exit from this structure, with all consequences assumed. United Kingdom will be the first nation that will quit this ambitious initiative and the decision is transmitted by the...