Spatial policy changes from a Central Eastern European perspective

Abstract

The diverging interpretations and impacts of the evolution of a common regional/cohesion policy and of the regulation in advanced member states (core areas) and transition countries (peripheries) is a relatively understudied field of research in international literature. Less advanced countries’ critical approach to the functioning of the EU is frequently perceived as EU-hostile. In a “common Europe”, however, the interests and objectives of the periphery must also contribute to the restructuring of the EU.

EU enlargement and the integration of the Central Eastern European region followed a centre-periphery pattern. A dual dependency was detected in CEE countries: their economies are FDI-dependent and their public-sector investments rely on EU funding. The changes in EU policy characterising the past one-and-a-half decades are unfavourable both from the aspect of cohesion policy and less advanced regions in cohesion countries. Structural and cohesion policy and its array of instruments are subordinated to the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy and the “spatially-blind” EU2020. The current cohesion policy is much more focused on the general objectives fixed by the strong member states and strengthening of supra-national governance than on regional policy. In terms of the funding received by cohesion countries it is highly unfavourable that the emphasis is on developed areas and metropolitan regions, while the task of decreasing domestic regional disparities tends to become an exclusive responsibility of national governments.

The EU’s continuing promotion of the optimal utilisation of the endogenous resources of its regions (place-based approach) will likely foster the predominance of core regions and vast economic concentrations and the further decline of peripheral areas. This would be contrary to the objectives of the Single European Act and the Lisbon Treaty. A more advanced level of integration requires the catching-up of underdeveloped areas and convergence between centre and periphery. A possible way for enhancing competitiveness and growth in the EU is by maintaining classical solidarity-based spatial policy and mobilising its instruments for the benefit of cohesion countries and the targeted development of those regions most lagging behind.