Regional problems and policies in Central and Eastern-Europe

During late 1989 and early 1990, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) began to initiate far-reaching processes of political liberalization and economic restructuring. In the early stages of the reform process, the attention of policymakers was concentrated primarily on the national implications of CEE countries moving from highly centralized, state-controlled economies to free-market systems. However, several important regional issues were also of concern, notably the degree to which the regions of CEE countries would participate in, and be affected by, the restructuring processes, as well as the effects on the neighbouring regions of the European Community. Policy debate also focused on the types of regional policies that might emerge in the CEE countries and the forms of regional development support that could be provided from Western sources