Assessing Slovenia\u27s capacity to absorb EU structural funds

Diplomsko delo se osredotoča na absorpcijsko sposobnost Republike Slovenije za črpanje sredstev evropske kohezijske politike v finančnem obdobju 2014–2020. Kljub znatnim finančnim sredstvom, ki so na voljo članicam EU, obstajajo izzivi v zvezi z učinkovito in uspešno uporabo teh sredstev. Ta pojav, znan kot absorpcijska sposobnost, je v ospredju tega raziskovanja. Absorpcijska sposobnost se nanaša na zmožnost države, da sredstva EU učinkovito in uspešno uporabi za različne projekte in programe. Namen raziskave je analizirati absorpcijsko sposobnost Slovenije na nacionalni (makro) ravni in organizacijski (mikro) ravni ter ugotoviti, ali se dojemanja problematike upravljanja sredstev EU razlikujejo med slovenskimi vodji projektov in nacionalnimi organi, ali obstaja pomanjkanje usposobljenega osebja ter kakšne so težave z nejasno razpisno dokumentacijo nacionalnih organov. Za proučevanje tega problema so uporabljene metode analize dokumentov in anketiranja. Analiza dokumentov vključuje pregled uradnih poročil in podatkov s strani nacionalnih organov, odgovornih za upravljanje sredstev EU. Anketa pa je izvedena med vodji projektov v zasebnem sektorju, ki so prejeli sredstva EU. Ta kombinacija metod omogoča celovit vpogled v problematiko črpanja sredstev EU. Raziskava potrjuje hipoteze, ki kažejo na razlike v dojemanju problematike upravljanja sredstev EU med vodji projektov in nacionalnimi organi, na pomanjkanje usposobljenega osebja in na težave z nejasno razpisno dokumentacijo. Te ugotovitve kažejo na potrebo po boljšem usklajevanju med različnimi akterji in potrebo po dodatnem usposabljanju osebja za boljše upravljanje sredstev EU. Rezultati te raziskave lahko služijo kot dragocen vir za izboljšanje praks upravljanja sredstev EU v Sloveniji in drugih državah članicah EU.The thesis focuses on the absorption capacity of the Republic of Slovenia for the absorption of EU cohesion policy funds in the 2014-2020 financial period. Despite the significant financial resources available to EU Member States, there are challenges related to the efficient and effective use of these funds. This phenomenon, known as absorption capacity, is the focus of this research. Absorptive capacity refers to the ability of a country to use EU funds efficiently and effectively for different projects and programmes. The aim of the research is to analyse Slovenia\u27s absorption capacity at national (macro) level and organisational (micro) level and to find out whether perceptions of EU funds management issues differ between Slovenian project managers and national authorities, whether there is a shortage of qualified staff, and what the problems are with unclear tender documentation of national authorities. Document analysis and survey methods are used to study this problem. The document analysis involves a review of official reports and data from the national authorities responsible for the management of EU funds, while the survey is carried out among project managers in the private sector who have received EU funds. This combination of methods provides a comprehensive insight into the problems of absorption of EU funds. The survey confirms the hypotheses which point to differences in perception of EU funds management issues between project managers and national authorities, to a lack of qualified staff and to problems with unclear tender documents. These findings point to the need for better coordination between the different actors and the need for additional staff training to improve the management of EU funds. The results of this survey can serve as a valuable resource for improving EU funds management practices in Slovenia and other EU Member States