EFFECT OF EU ENLARGEMENT ON THE LEVEL OF ACHIEVED CONVERGENCE

This paper summarizes results achieved by examining the degree of convergence within European integration affected by the successive enlargement of the European Union (EU). Through the EU countries the convergence or divergence is measured by the indicator of relative wealth (GDP per capita in PPS) in time. It can be also measured by shift share analysis which is based on the number of countries and cohesion regions classified as, underdeveloped". The end of article contains a comparison between entities that belong to ,,underdeveloped" group and regions subordinated under the Convergence objective, including the analysis of funds allocated to groups of, underdeveloped" territories which related to the total amount of allocation of this objective in the programed period 2007 - 2013. However, the partial results coming from the research on the expansion of European integration and its influence to achieved convergence show different conclusions. For this reason it's not possible to decide on a degree of convergence or divergence in relation to the expanding EU.