摘要：Trends in regional disparities phenomenon are a major problem in regionaleconomics for many decades. Significant initial differences between regions affectdevelopment capacity of each of them and response to external challenges posed byglobalization, and also their ability to enhance competitiveness and international trade. Thus,identifying ways to overcome them is essential for regional policy decisions. The challengesof integration and economic development, although defies simple solutions, should notconsider a complex guiding principle, but an appropriate mix of policy intervention. Atpresent, the debates on geographical disparities of economic development begin and end withtaking into account the spatially targeted interventions, using as instruments: innovation,infrastructure and institutions, in supporting the transition to the "cities of tomorrow":dynamic, attractive, inclusive and careful about environmental issues. Therefore, this paperaims at analyzing the evolution of the phenomenon from the perspective of the main tools toimprove it in the current macroeconomic context that strongly affects the enlarged EuropeanUnion.
关键词：regional disparities; enlarged European Union; creativity and innovation;infrastructure; institutional capacity; economic growth; convergence
