ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the impact of enlargement of the European Union (EU) to cohesion and the role of the EU in promoting structural change. Among the many challenges presented by the process of European integration, the creation of a new architecture for the EU associated with its eastward enlargement is surely the most difficult. Virtually every Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) country has set up a national council, board or committee for regional policy, representing not only different central government departments but also sub-national bodies such as regional/county councils, development agencies, local authorities and business interests. In assessing the characteristics of actions in the regional policy sphere, four issues are worth highlighting: the reform of territorial administrative structures, the institutional infrastructure for regional development, the introduction of regional policy legislation and instruments, and the designation of assisted areas. A distinctive feature of the institutional arrangements for regional development in CEE countries is the emphasis placed on inter-ministerial co-ordination.
