"Formatted homogenic socio-demographic regions in the EU context"

Abstract

Περιγραφική έκθεση για τις σχηματισμένες ομοιογενείς κοινωνικό-δημογραφικές περιφέρειες της ΕΕ

The recognition in Europe of the importance of urban areas for economic development, has led to a growing trend for regional policy that focuses on strategies for district, urban areas and urban regional as well as national and supranational levels.In a context of integration of economic relations and interdependenciesworldwide attention gradually moved from comparative advantages regions in "absolute" or "competitive" advantages that can be identified uniquely in certain places, with significant progress in spatial transformations. In the same context, the EU cohesion policy is reshaped by introducing the concept of territorial cohesion as an objective complement those of economic and social cohesion, indicating aemphasis on the spatial dimension in the development process. As a key componentdevelopment process for regions and spatial units, in general,highlights the concept of territorial capital and the formation of a new model of 'Local' development. As an operational expression of this visa, thedirections for the new programming period (2014-2020) introduced new methodsfor the implementation of cohesion policy, which engage and mobilize thelocal communities, with a view to implementing integrated actions that contribute to the new strategy for the development of EU is adopted in 2010, the strategy "Europe 2020". These include new integration tools to implement spatial strategies, such as the 'local development initiative communities' and 'integrated territorial investment'were implemented according to the spatial characteristics of operating areas.Condition for the application of new methods of regional development isan integrated approach to implementing the actions, aimed at coordination of policies, but also different levels of government, even with excess of traditional administrative boundaries, and the involvement various actors.