The future of European cohesion policy: The paradoxes in domestic governance of CEE countries
The future of European cohesion policy: The paradoxes in domestic governance of CEE countries

Author(s): Ilona Pálné Kovács
Subject(s): Geopolitics
Published by: Kossuth Kiadó Zt.
Summary/Abstract: The European cohesion (or regional) policy underwent several changes during its almost four decades existence and referring to the new label of territorial cohesion it seems that new directions will start again after 2013. The changes are necessary since the dimensions of regional inequalities have changed of course during time and by regions. Due to the higher level of economic, infrastructural development and the urbanisation in Western Europe the differences between villages and towns as the types of settlements lessened, the locally converging living-conditions are determined by strong connections within the urban areas. At the same time the regional dimension of territorial inequalities has become more important so that larger regions permanently exhibit the divergent economic, infrastructural, and demographic and income conditions. The divergences depend on the economic performance of central, larger cities and on the distance of the peripheries from the main centres. The factors of competitiveness are constantly concentrating in the core urban areas of Western Europe.

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