Integrated Concepts Enhancing Cohesion of European Space
European rural areas are confronted with serious problems, with which they have to cope in order to survive. The globalisation of the economy and the new CAP result to strengthening competition and shrinking competitiveness of European agricultural products and areas. Their exposure to the international market beside the imminent EU enlargement, are expected to threaten the cohesion of the European space in total. Structural measures with a territorial approach have to compensate the difficulties emerging from the new situation. In this changing environment local competitiveness becomes a key issue. Integrated planning and focus of local efforts on a specific economic objective, in which local areas provide a comparative advantage, help overcoming shortage of resources and increasing efficiency of activities. A sector or a specific product, significant for a particular area's identity, may become, in this context, poles of growth for the entire area ensuring its further survival.