The EU’s Regional Policy and its Implications on Economic Strategies within an Enlarged EU

Abstract

One ofthe major endeavours as well as one ofthe consequences ofthe European integration process is to reduce the differences in development between individual countries and regions and to support the less developed areas in catching up with the others. This process requiresjoint action to strengthen the predominance offree rnarket forces, as well as the establishment ofa support system for the regional policy managed at EU levei. An effective regional policy is crucial to thefuture development ofan integrated EU. If the EU does not have a commitment to reduce the disparities in income differences and living standards, the future ofthe integrative process would be undermined. It would be unacceptable for citizens in differing parts ofthe Union to be subject to significantly different standards.