REGIONAL POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A MEANS OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SMART CITIES AND REGIONAL PLANNING

Abstract

Creating opportunities for the development of cities and regions in the European Union goes through the structuring and building of a regional policy that combines intelligent urban and regional planning, leading to an increase in economic growth in the regions and the quality of life by planning strategic investments in underdeveloped regions to reach the levels of socio-economic development of the leading regions of the European Union. This study aims to investigate and analyze the specifics, practices, normative and methodological prerequisites and limitations in the formation of effective regional policy as a means of achieving balanced economic growth based on the policy of building smart cities of the future. This process requires a review of the development of regional planning and its impact on smart urban development. In addition, the key models for smart urban development should be identified by exploring good practices, and this requires research and critical analysis of regulatory and strategic documents relating to regional policy in the European Union. The development of regional policy in the European Union should focus not only on a limited number of key investment priorities, but also on the objectives, the resources available and the resources needed to measure the progress of individual regions and smart cities of the future.