Towards Market Integration in an Enlarged EU: The Choice of Regional Policy in the Accession Countries

This paper addresses the specific relationship between EU market integration and the choice of regional policy in the Accession Countries. The necessary process of stabilising and adjusting industrial structures in order to withstand increasing competitive pressure within an enlarged European Monetary Union raises the question whether regional policy ought to support backward regions in the CEECs or to primarily support the national growth poles. The findings suggest a more growth oriented regional policy, in contrast to the traditional policies of supporting interregional convergence.