Question 1

It is known, that recently the economic crises has affected the entire World. This problem also touched the European Union. The most suffering regions in the EU have become the Mediterranean countries (Spain, Portugal, Greece and South Italy).

For this reason, the European Union has developed new European 2020 strategy to combat with the main challenge such as an economic recession. The document points out the necessity of implementing new measures for improving economic situation, as soon as possible. According to the European Strategy, there are key measures which must be achieved by 2020: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Actually, the document proposes a new idea of improving the economic situation. Regarding to this, the Cohesion policy was introduced; it means a development policy aiming at improving the conditions for sustainable growth, jobs, quality of life and environment in the EU regions. The main idea is to strengthen a role of the European regions in order to help them in improving economic and social issues. In another words, the main goal is to allow every citizen to be involved into the process of economic growth and welfare.

Traditionally, the Cohesion policy means that some rich regions have to help to poor regions in sustainable development. According to this, the key question arises from this statement. Do the reductions of disparities correlates with growth or the two definitions contradictions to each other?

According to my point of view, I believe that between the growth and reduction of inequality there is a strong correlation. One argument in support of this could be that the equalizing disparities between regions would lead to the growth. The poor regions could be improved and rich regions could be more increased. As we seen, both parts gain a benefit from this.

One should note here, that the Cohesion policy implies that the European regions are the key actors in the field of reducing disparities and economic growth. Due to the close cooperation within the regions there will be positive output on a national level which means that the economic and social situation of a country depends on a region. For instance, if one of the regions is weak, it directly destroys the country’s stability. As it is known, nowadays the economic situation in Spain and Portugal is hanging on the hair. For example, Andalucía region in Spain is quite weaker than other Spanish regions. In this concern, to improve the situation in a region, there is the necessity to communicate and develop business with Andalucía’s neighboring regions. In this regard, Andalucía and other Portuguese neighboring regions should encourage partnership between each other in the deferent fields of development. Due to the communication, support and partnership Andalucía’s economic and social situation will have positive results and it will reflect to other regions as well.

Besides, it is very clear that those both things: growth and reduction of disparities jointly influence on other aspects of development. For example, due to their relation such fields as environmental issues, education, innovation, technology, and social life could be solved in a proper way. If we have strong and wealthy partners from different countries the work in cooperation in these fields could be better. And at the end, the results could be more profitable and effective for everyone.

One should, however not forget that, in reality, some principles of Cohesion policy are seemed as more complicate. As things stand, firstly the European Union countries are tend to think on national level and some of them don’t want to put efforts to support neighboring regions which are outside their borders. Although, we can’t not argue that all fields of support and cooperation are not fulfilled. There are some spheres such as environmental, education, transport programs are going on in a proper way. Nevertheless, it is clear from these observations that states don’t have strong desire to think through the European perspective; they just develop jointly some problems which are beneficial for them. According to this, the reduction of disparities is a very slowly process and we could see the growth in the same way. That proves that fact that the growth and reduction of disparities has close relationship and cannot be separated.

In conclusion, as far as I am concerned, that the obligations from the “Europe 2020” could be achieved if all the countries start to think from the European perspective. In another words, some developed countries should support developing countries. Together, with mutual efforts all goals of the European strategy 2020 and Cohesion policy could be achieved and we will see the reduction of inequality and economic growth in every country, region and city.

Дата добавления: 2015-08-18