ABSTRACT
Third, the spatial patterns and territorial-administrative structures in Europe change
slowly. Historical path-dependencies have a significant impact. The economic core of the
EU and the key metropolitan areas remain for decades in the territory of the older
Member States. This occurs even if the eastern enlargement is necessary, if the EU wants
to hold its global position in terms of population and economy. Selected metropolitan
areas in the east benefit from their better connectivity to the core EU and become more
important nodes in the European polycentric network. The engagement of more peripheral
areas to polycentric Europe is challenging. More resilient, path-creative and proactive
spatial policies and governing are needed for increasingly networked and relational regions.
