A política europeia de desenvolvimento regional na Espanha: regiões da convergência (1994 - 2006)

Abstract

The European Union is a reference for the regional integration process in the world. In the face of structural asymmetries, Community decided to adopt an attendance policy to enable them to grow economically. Under this circumstances it was created the Regional Development European Policy, which represents one third of the EU budget and it is manipulated through structural funds. When joining the Community in 1986, Spain was configured as one of the poorest countries and its regions showed remarkable differences in levels of development. Soon, it became the beneficiary of the resources of this policy. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the results of the application of funds in the Spanish regions of Objective 1 between 1994 and 2006, besides reflecting if the goal of reducing economic inequalities within the country and across other regions of the Community has been reached. It also outlines the Spanish economic context before the country's entry into the EU and the elements of such a policy.