European regional policy: Analysis of the management reports of structural funds 2000-2006

The present work endeavours to carry out a study of the weaknesses/errors detected by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) in the reports presentedby 15 European countries on the economic and financial management of StructuralFunds in the period ranging from 2000 to 2006. The aim of our study is focusedon the description and analysis of the number and nature of the errors/weaknesses made by the member states, carrying out an empirical analysis on the possiblecauses at the root of this situation, conducting a study with univariate and multivariatestatistical techniques, using a probit choice model type and least squaresestimation. Amongst other conclusions, the current study establishes that the newCouncil Regulation has had an uneven effect on the different countries, and that thevolume of such errors/weaknesses detected in the reports of the EU member statesis linked to the amount of resources allocated to each member state per StructuralFund.