Globalisation, regional transformation and the future of European cohesion policy

Inaugural lecture: Mr. prof. P. McCann, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Title: Globalisation, regional transformation and the future of European cohesion policy

Chair: Economic Geography

Faculty: Spatial Sciences

 

European Regional Policy, or more precisely, European Cohesion Policy, is an integral part of the European Union. Yet, there are powerful arguments for believing that European Cohesion Policy must be reformed if it is to continue to effectively play its intended role, and there are two major reasons for this. Firstly, globalization has impacted on all parts and all aspects of the EU in different ways and Cohesion Policy must be able to respond to these changes. Secondly, the EU has itself changed as the number of member states has increased, along with their income disparities.

In his lecture Professor McCann will try to clarify some issues relating to the nature of globalization and how these impact on the ways in which we think about Europe and European policies. On this basis he will argue four points:

- Firstly, globalization changes the role and nature of nations and states in profound ways, and we are living through these changes.

- Secondly, the impacts of globalization are overwhelmingly geographical in nature, and change the relationships between cities, regions and nations.

- Thirdly, the impacts of globalization are today mediated primarily via global firms and between particular city-regions, and much less so between individual countries.

- Fourthly, these transformations have real impacts on the rationale for the EU, and the logic and design of its policies, and in particular, Cohesion Policy.

As Professor McCann will explain, the world changed fundamentally between 1989 and 1994 and examining the features of contemporary globalisation post-1989 also allows us to think more realistically about the European context over the coming decades.