The impact of the EU Regional Policy developed within the scope of lisbon strategy and Europe 2020 goals on overcoming interregional differences

Abstract

The European Union, which is a unique form of integration in the world, has made significant economic contributions to the continent. However, developmental differences among the regions within the Union appear as an important problem in the European Union. Especially the dimensions of this problem have increased with the expansion waves of the Union. Hence, the European Union, which includes many different structures, aims to support the development of these regions by creating a strong regional policy for the efficient functioning of the economy, monetary union and common market. By this way, it aims to reduce the existing differences between the regions with the contributions it will provide to the underdeveloped countries and regions in the Union. The European Union tries to facilitate the adaptation of not only the countries and regions within the Union, but also the candidate and potential candidate countries and regions with regional policy. In this chapter, the European Union Regional Policy developed within the scope of the Lisbon Strategy and Europe 2020 targets set forth as a result of global developments, and the effectiveness of the European Union Regional Policy in eliminating interregional differences in the European Union has been tried to be evaluated. In this chapter, literature scanning method was used and current articles, books and European Union reports were examined. As a result of the study, although successful attempts have been made by the European Union with the European Union Regional Policy established within the scope of both the Lisbon Strategy and Europe 2020 targets in order to eliminate regional differences, increase regional competition and ensure regional development; interregional differences continue to be a problem that does not lose their validity in the European Union. Therefore, the European Union should make more effort on this issue and develop different kind of policies to eliminate interregional differences.