Abstract

The evolution of competition policies has affected the rate of growth of the Italian Mezzogiorno as well as of many others Mediterranean countries. Due to its geographical position, Mezzogiorno represents a significant link with some North African economies; its strategic role is preserved as long as the productive structure will grow up at a satisfactory level. This work shows that cohesion policies recently adopted by the EU do not completely support the Mezzogiorno growing efforts: European cohesion strategies are targeted more on some areas of less developed Member States rather than on the weak regions of the entire EU. For these reasons, the identification of clear common objectives and means for defeating economic diversities in and among countries represents a reasonable approach to follow.