European development policy resources the impact of the use of the Structural Funds on territorial handicaps and social cohesion in Hungary

Social cohesion is a multifaceted and complex concept, most commonly employed in the social sciences in relation to trust, cooperation, and social capital. However, it is also widely used in policy-making, particularly in the context of social inclusion, social innovation, and developmental policies aimed at reducing disparities. Within the European Union, social cohesion has played a key role in cohesion policy, which seeks to mitigate economic and social inequalities among member states. EU development funds, particularly the European Social Fund, are directed towards areas such as job creation, poverty reduction, and education.

Since Hungary's accession to the European Union, the concept of social cohesion has been primarily used in the context of social policy and convergence efforts. The aim of this study is to review the impact of EU development policies in Hungary over the past two decades, with a particular focus on the extent to which these financial instruments have contributed to reducing social and regional inequalities and fostering the development of disadvantaged areas.

However, assessing the impact of EU development policies on social cohesion presents significant challenges. One of the primary issues is that social investment measurements rely predominantly on outcome indicators, which do not allow for the systematic long-term tracking of effects. As a result, comprehensive and territorially detailed data necessary for evaluating the actual societal impact of development programs remain largely unavailable. This limitation makes it difficult to determine the extent to which EU development policy instruments have effectively supported vulnerable and disadvantaged groups within Hungarian society.