The Influence of the Implementation of European Union Cohesion Policy on the Economic Cycle and the Fiscal Policy in the Czech Republic

This article examines the impact of EU Cohesion Policy delivered through the European Structural and Investment Funds in the economic cycle and the fiscal policy of the Czech Republic in the years 2004-2015. Revenue arising from the EU increases aggregate demand, and this is a regular instrument for stabilizing fiscal policy. The key conclusion of the analysis is based on regression analysis, and there is demonstrate the procyclical nature of the EU Regional Policy and its negative impact on the effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of national resources. Temporal definition of programming periods and the ability to prepare projects and their implementation in the context of national and EU legal framework were identified as the main determinants of procyclicality. However, these factors make the cyclicality purely accidental and cohesion policy without links to the economic cycle and performance of member countries.