EU Regional and Cohesion Policy and Economic Integration of the Accession Countries

The paper deals with specific issues concerning the relationship between regional development strategies and EU integration of the Central and Eastern European Accession Countries (CEECs). In this context the possible role of pre-accession regional development aid and the future interventions by the European Structural Funds in enhancing intra- industry trade and market integration of the CEECs is of particular importance. The comparative empirical analysis (e.g. Grubel-Lloyd- indices, FDI stock per capita) suggests not only to focus regional development policy on lagging and remote areas but rather on national growth poles with a higher potential of market integration, notably with a view to participate in European Monetary Union.