Regional Discrepancies in the European Union

Abstract

The accession of the 12 Member States with GDP figures below the EU average, lead to increased differences between EU regions. The article analyses the discrepancies between NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions in EU-27, from the point of view of GDP/inhabitant and the dispersion of regional GDP/inhabitant.In case of NUTS3 regions, the majority of Member States registered increases in dispersion in the period 2000-2005. Romanian counties were characterized by an accentuated gap between regions.Concerning NUTS2 regions, there are only eight Member States that shaw decreases in dispersion in 2000-2005, these being also the most populated. Nevertheless, at global level, the EU registered a decrease in regional discrepancies.

Keywords

• regional policy
• NUTS regions
• regional discrepancies
• dispersion of regional GDP per inhabitant
• differences between EU regions.