The Fringes of Europe and EU Integration

Abstract

Regions and cities in southern Europe are facing major problems in the present phase of European inte gration. Current changes in their spatial division of labour seem not to have been adequately understood by national and EU policy-makers as both are preoc cupied with the 'gap approach' and a linear view of the development process. Furthermore, the Maas tricht Treaty itself pays little attention to non- economic, non-competition issues in general and to urban and regional issues in particular. Southern fringes struggled a century ago for their integration into their national states and economies. For various historical reasons this project remained unfinished until the 1960s and 1970s. Now they have to start their struggle again under conditions of a zero-sum game in a culturally unknown environment.