Regionalization in Central and Eastern European countries after EU Enlargement

In Central and Eastern Europe, decentralization and regionalization can be analyzed as two phases in a unitary process of democratization, which, started following the fall of the communist regime, was strengthened upon accession to the European Union. In correspondence with the EU policies for the creation of NUTS, the so-called the “development regions”, administrative-territorial bodies established on a voluntary basis, without legal personality.This analysis proposes a survey concerning the evolution of regional policies in three countries of Central and Eastern Europe - Poland, Hungary and Romania. First, the differences in the administrative-territorial setting of these countries are highlighted. Secondly, the subsequent reforms and regulatory aspects that have changed the initial regional structure towards a consolidation of urban and metropolitan areas are emphasized. Thirdly, a critical look at current regionalization policies in this area will demonstrate the ineffectiveness of these regions through nationalist trends and past fears.