Cohesion processes in the European Union: tendencies and new challenges

Abstract

Cohesion processes in the European Union, new development tendencies, as well as contemporary challenges for further European integration are analyzed in this theoretical article. Possibilities of activation of the processes of European integration and of the further enlargement of the European Union are discussed. The main attention is paid to the role and priorities of cohesion in the context of needs of the common cultural, social and economic space creation. The article raises and considers the problem of social, economic and political development, cultural changes, the new tendencies of technological progress and environmental protection, closely associated with the cohesion processes, taking place under the conditions of European integration and the European Union development and enlargement. It is shown that the cohesion processes determine the basic changes in contemporary society and its life in the common cultural, social and economic space in the European Union. The main principles of cohesion are formulated and described, the role and significance of these principles are discussed. The variety of the cohesion processes is described, new trends of cohesion in the context of globalization and internationalization, knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation processes are identified. Regularities of the cohesion processes in general, as well as of the cohesion processes in the European Union, are described.