Understanding the influence of EU urban policy in Spanish cities: the case of Málaga

ABSTRACT This work aims to shed light on the contribution of the urban dimension of the Cohesion Policy (CP) to Spanish cities. It is based on the case study of Málaga, a city in which European Union (EU) programmes have contributed importantly to regenerating its historic centre. The case study uses a mixed qualitative methodology to understand if and to what extent the EU urban programmes have delivered local capacity. The results show that their contribution has been positive, but also identifies the persistence of inertia and relevant contradictions that provide lessons for the post-2020 urban dimension of the CP.