The contribution of the road transport projects of the NSRF 2007-2013 to the development of a Greek region

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper is to study how the actions of the road projects of National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-2013 contributed to the development of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, as these actions were included in the respective Operational Program of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace 2007-2013. It analyzes the European regional policy, examines the cohesion policy of the European Union, which aims to reduce regional inequalities and ensure the social, economic and territorial cohesion. In Greece, the cohesion policy implementation for the period 2007-2013 was achieved through the NSRF 2007-2013, where the present study presents its training philosophy and the priorities set. The study area concerns the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, followed by the analysis, characteristics and results of the Operational Program of the Region of the same period, through which 87 road projects were implemented. Data are collected for each of these projects and, through the presented research methodology, conclusions are drawn on the contribution of these actions to the development of the Region.