A területi kohézió történelmi áttekintése = The evolution of the territorial cohesion

Abstract

Discussions about the territorial cohesion form part of the EU policy agendas since 1990. In relation to the accession processes, there is an increasing focus on the European spatial development. The new member states have different development potentials which resulted big inequalities within the whole European Union. These inequalities have always been present, and they are still today, economically and socially as well. Regarding the smaller spatial units, there are further differences. The increasing spatial inequalities pose further threats; therefore, they must be mitigated for the sustainable development of the European Union. Cohesion is already an integrated part of the common EU policies. It consists of three dimensions, which are economic, social, and spatial cohesion. The latest is one of the main EU objectives and determinant for the regional and cohesion policy since the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The purpose of this paper is to summarize and present the evolution of spatial cohesion based on EU documents and the literature.