1. Mgr. Katarína Rentková PhD. Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Management Department of Economics and Finances, Odbojarov 10, 820 05 Bratislava, Slovakia Tel: +421-903-835-541, E-mail:katarina.rentkova@fm.uniba.sk

2.  Focuses of the research: ◦ Analyze of the maintenance possibilities in the regional development ◦ Analyze of the economic growth and development (social, regional) ◦ Analyze of the protection of the environment through the application of the policies ◦ The effective use of the instruments

3.  EU regional policy is an investment policy  It supports job creation, competitiveness, economic growth, improved quality of life and sustainable development  These investments support the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy  The aim: to decrease regional disparities, to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion

4.  Definition of the Cohesion policy of the European Union ◦ Historical level ◦ Connection to the instruments, finances and participating bodies  Theoretical and legislative determination of the Cohesion policy on the EU level and on the national level

5.  Creation of the independent State : 1.1.1993  Entering the EU: 1.5.2004  Euro system member: since 1.1.2009  Inhabitants: 5 410 836  Economic and social indicators:

8.  Basic information on the inquiry:  Assignment: The analysis of the state of cohesion policy implementation on LAU2 (the local administrative units) and NUTS3 (Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics)  Type of research: quantitative inquiry  Basic file: the Slovak Republic municipalities (LAU 2), the higher territorial units (NUTS 3)  Mode of questioning: on-line questionnaire inquiry  Quota features: regional structure (NUTS 3) / population  Sample size: 509  The term of the inquiry: from August 2011 - to December 2011

9.  The Cohesion policy still being taken as positive  Identification of some negative points: ◦ Exploiting the structural finances ◦ Policy determination and implementation ◦ Cooperation between participating bodies ◦ Creation of the effective partnership between participating bodies

10.  Disharmonious development between the EU Member-States  The deepen disparities between the particular regional territories within the State  Relevant economic, social, demographic and urban consequences of the Cohesion policy

11.  The effective application of the Cohesion policy on the local level would have the important influence of its application on higher levels.