European solidarity

EU regional policy is the most concrete example of European solidarity at work. By spending money to help poorer regions catch up, the EU is effectively redistributing money from the richer countries to the poorer regions which need the money most. What is happening here is that, German taxpayers are paying for roads in Greece. Or Dutch taxpayers are paying for new infrastructural projects in Portugal. Clearly then, above all, the EU regional policy is about solidarity, which is another word for cohesion. This point is often lost, although less so on those who have to foot the bill.