Megaspaces of the European Union in the context

of the global space of the 21 century

Grzegorz Gorzelak

Introductory remarks

THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN REGIONSWarsaw, 31 May – 2 June, 2007

New geographyof the world, 2040

Back to the future?

The network of Euroasiatic cities, ca 1300

and KnowledgeGrowth

Growth rates

Cohesion?

Regional dynamics of Poland1995-2004

J-W

LEG

WRO

BYD

TOR-W

BIAL

CH-Z

LUB

GORZ

ZIEL

PIO

ŁÓD

NS

KRA

C-P

O-S

RAD

WAR

OPO

RZE

KRO

BIAŁŁOM

SŁUP

GDACZĘST

B-B C-Ś

R-J

KIELELBL

OL

EŁ

PIL

KAL

KON

POZ

SZ

KOSZ

5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 11000 12000 13000 14000 15000

100

120

140

160

180

200

Metropolitan

Traditional industries

Advancing

Stagnating East

GDP/capita, 2004

GDP growth, 1995-2004

Scatter diagram, GDP/inhabitant in 1995 and GDP growth, NUTS3 (constant prices) 1995-20004, Source: Bank Danych Regionalnych.

Cohesion - Competitiveness

• A new name for old equity – efficieny dilemma

• A unsolvable contradiction?

• Is Europe unique in its social model – and if yes, is it its strength or weakness?

• The panel will hopefully address these issues!