Regional Policy

Regional Policy

Although the European Union is one of the richest parts of the world, there are large internal disparities of income and opportunity between its regions. The May 2004 Enlargement, followed by accession of Bulgaria and Romania in January 2007 has widened these gaps. Regional policy transfers resources from richer to poorer regions.

The argument for regional policy is that it is both an instrument of financial solidarity and a powerful force for economic integration.