Regions of Europe, rich and poor” “

Eurostat – the statistics bureau of the European Union – has published data on the socio-economic situation of the over 200 Regions of the 25-member Europe. The data refer to 2002. They are divided into three classifications: GDP per inhabitant, the purchasing power of families net of import-export and purchasing power net of taxation. If the Region of London (Inner London) heads each of the three categories, the Eurostat study registers a substantial dichotomy: On the one hand, the big cities of Northern Europe, the western Länder of Germany, the North of Spain and of Italy; and on the other hand, the Regions of the new member states (the poorest, according to the survey, is Lubelskie, in Poland), East Germany and the southern regions of Spain and of Italy. In particular, the levels of regional wealth in the new member states are below half the European average, with minimum prospects of statistical growth. If the English Regions are the most conspicuous in the various classifications, those of Italy (Emilia Romagna, Valle d’Aosta, Lombardy and Provinces of Trento and Bolzano) are also well represented. For further information consult the website www.europa.eu.int/eurostat