Place-based Approach to Regional Policy – Polish, Slovakian and Ukrainian Youth Perspective. Selection of Proceedings

Abstract

Despite over 40 years of European Cohesion Policy experience, it is still evolving to meet the changes of the socio-economical situation. During the recent years, there is more and more common belief that what can decide about the power of the European Union, it is a variability of institutional contexts of regional development. It means that both studies on local and regional aspects of socio-economic development, as well as relevant policy tools in this matter, should consider on larger and larger scale, so called place-based approach to regional policy. The latter refers to the necessity of capturing “territorial” diversity of European space on different scales of policy intervention. Regional scientists gathered in the European Regional Science Association – Polish Section decided to verify, how this modern paradigm of regional policy is perceived by students and young scientists living in Central European countries. For this purpose, a seminar for Polish, Ukrainian and Slovakian participants has been organized. What was particularly interesting in this context, it was both the perception of the advantage of being a member of European community for these countries who joined UE at the beginning of 21st century, and the expectations of young Ukrainians, whose country is nowadays on a serious political crossroad, from the EU. This monograph is a material effect of a reunion of Polish, Slovakian and Ukrainian students and young scientists, for whom the European Regional Science Association – Polish Section created a forum for strengthening cross-border cooperation, exchange of experience and development of skills and competencies in the field of regional policy and regional economy, broadly defined.