ABSTRACT
As is the case with many national states or federations, the European Community (EC) is characterised by wide disparities in the development level of its regions. This problem became more acute when the Community decided to progress towards a full and unified internal market: it was feared that these disparities could become larger and so jeopardise the aims of the internal market and the cohesion of the Community itself. Furthermore, the member states had a long tradition of regional policy which could therefore be considered valid in its own right.
