Transformations  in
Business & Economics

THE MEANING OF CLUSTER POLICY IN THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES
Boguslawa Drelich-Skulska, Anna H. Jankowiak

ABSTRACT. The integration between the European economies is a continuous process that has been taking place for many years at various levels. One of its aspects is cooperation at national level, but growing attention is paid to cooperation at regional level. The currently implemented Europe 2020 is a strategy based on two growth theories, smart and sustainable growth, and socially inclusive growth. This strategy assumes, inter alia, the use of EU-wide networks to ensure additional market advantage to European companies (especially small manufacturing companies) and improvement of conditions for growth of entrepreneurship, especially concerning SMEs. In this context, the article presents the role of cluster policy as a factor contributing to the deepening of economic integration between individual clusters in the European Union. The purpose of the article is to present the impact of transregional cluster policy on the process of economic integration. The article will present the Europe 2020 strategy, review the cluster policies applied in the Member States and discuss the possibility of implementing a common cluster policy for the entire European Union.

KEYWORDS:  cluster policy, economic integration, European Union.

JEL classification:  F15, L52, O25.