ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents a contemporary assessment of the main processes and dilemmas of regional development and regional policy in the new Member States, taking a broad perspective of European Union (EU) policies and policy choices for the future. It focuses on economic and social trends within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, examining the evidence for the changes in regional disparities, and the effectiveness of regional policy responses. The book examines the macro-level position and future development scenarios for Central and Eastern Europe at both national and regional levels. It also examines the situation of CEE border regions, assess the effectiveness of policies undertaken so far in this field, and present policy recommendations relevant to the implementation of territorial cooperation programmes in the 2007–13 period.
