THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN THE EU. EVOLUTION IN THE LAST DECADE

Abstract

The problem of EU social-disparities is a complex one, being analysed from different points of view. The article aims at highlighting how the EU socio-economic disparities evolved in the latest years. We can see that progess was registered in some regions, also due to the EU Cohesion Policy. Most of the underdevelopped regions are and still continue to be in the Eastern part of the EU. As for the number of regions with GDP (PPS/capita) under 75% of the EU average, this haven’t decreased, remaining a challenge for the future. Only the number of regions with GDP (PPS/capita) under 50% of the EU average decreased. Also, we noticed increases, especially at GDP/capita (PPS) of these regions. The persistence of development gaps requires the adaptation of EU policies in order to achieve an equilibrated development.