The European Union's role in regional, social, and economic integration

Arbeitspapier

Since the Lisbon Process, the EU has changed its function from a mere economic common market into a social union. The EU addressed its future policy also to sustainability with increasing employment and better jobs, and greater social cohesion. That implies the acknowledgment of social inclusion and solidarity. The key words are convergence and improving competitiveness. The EU's regional policy therefore addresses less developed regions. Furthermore, leaving the existing regional disparities in place would lead to unwanted migration: the less developed regions would be deprived through the brain drain and would lack a qualified workforce for their own future investments and for economic progress. On the other hand, migration to highly developed centers would increase traffic problems and housing prices. This situation was essentially apparent after the enlargement to include the central and eastern former socialist states, which are the poorest states in the EU. Aside from improving the GDP of the poorer countries, there are some other objectives, like improving education and employment or regional cooperation. The Europe 2020 strategy again changed the targets, with concrete objectives to fight climate change and achieve higher employment rates. To improve the results, EU funding no longer addresses the central states but involves regional and local partners. The aim is to increase the chance of engaging citizens in their own affairs and adopting tailor-made strategies (Hübner 2005). The question then is whether these goals have led to a harmonious development of convergence in Europe. Despite some successes, there are doubts, because we face welfare chauvinism and eroding solidarity between the rich and the poor regions. Furthermore, political reactions to the budget crisis have counteracted the EU's convergence policy objectives.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: ADBI Working Paper Series ; No. 1102

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development
• Subject: disparity of regions ; goals of the EU's regional policy ; regional funding ; partnership principle and engagement of civil society ; influence of the austerity policy

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Eißel, Dieter
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI)
• (where): Tokyo
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/238459
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET