ABSTRACT
Even a superficial understanding of the European Union should make it obvious that such fears exaggerate both the powers of the Union over its citizens, and the effects of membership. Nevertheless, it is still common for the EU’s most rabid critics to portray it as some kind of monster that gobbles up unwary states and obliterates centuries of culture, language, identity, history, experience and allegiance. The Union, as has been stated elsewhere, has instead tended towards the notion of unity in diversity, and has played a significant role in promoting the regions through a range of policy initiatives that have a primarily, though
Regional Development Fund, which is concerned with structural funding projects. These include regeneration and support for less advantaged areas, or with managing recovery following industrial decline. A second fund is the Cohesion Fund, which promotes transport infrastructure development and measures relating to the environment in the poorer member states. Regional policy initiatives are wide-ranging. Some are large and high profile, while many others, particularly with a significant social dimension, are small and may go broadly unnoticed.
