ABSTRACT
Given the importance of block finance to the financial autonomy of the regional tier, it is perhaps wise to draw breath at this point and consider the overall picture. As one would expect, given all that has been said above, block funding in all its many forms is the single largest source of finance for most regional governments in the EU. As Figure 9.4 shows, 50-80% of regional income in most Member States comes from this source. With the exception of France and Denmark, this compares with 1-10% from independently raised sources (including borrowing). France and Denmark, in addition to the high level of independent financial resources explored above, rely primarily on non-hypothecated income for the remainder of their expenditure.
