The main objective of the book is to identify and evaluate the major changes in the Cohesion Policy of the European Union and their effects on Polish regions for the period of 2014 - 2020. The reader will learn how these changes result from the successful agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework and implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy. Based on these aspects, the authors describe the main change in the Cohesion Policy of the EU, which is the renewed focus on competitiveness and skills to compete within the EU internal and the global market. The territorial approach taken by the EU with respect to entrepreneurial competitiveness is directly linked to the location attractiveness of regions. The authors argue that the new paradigm of the EU' s Cohesion Policy will strengthen the focus on location attractiveness. To illustrate this case, they analyze Poland as one of the most appropriate and relevant Member States to evaluate the new rules underlying EU policies for 2014 - 2020, as Poland is the largest net-beneficiary of the EU budget.

Adam A. Ambroziak, Ph.D., associate professor at the Warsaw School of Economics (Doctor Habilitatus of Economic Science (title of habilitation thesis: National regional state aid in Special Economic Zones in Poland), specializing in the conditions for conducting economic activities of entrepreneurs on the European Union internal market, including policies of the internal market, state aid policies and control, use of European funds, cohesion policy, common commercial policy, industry policy of the EU; expert in the decision-making processes in the European Union and EU lobbying; Head of postgraduate studies on the Evaluation of EU projects and programmes and on Management of European Funds; Senior Adviser to the Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Polish Delegation (Expert) to the Council of the EU on Competitiveness and Growth.