ROLE AND POSITION OF EUROPEAN REGIONS - ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND LEGAL ASPECT

Within the thematic whole of the conference entitled "Regions", the aim of the paper is to analyse the role and position of European regions from an economic, political and legal point of view. Regarding research methodology, in addition to the analysis and synthesis method, the following methods were used: comparative method (comparison of constitutional position of regions in Italy and Spain), historical method (historical review of regions), inductive and deductive method and secondary research. The scientific contribution of this paper is expressed in an interdisciplinary approach to research (economic, political and legal). The results of the study show that European regions have a significant impact on the economic, legal and political systems of certain countries. Their positive role is reflected in the economic system in which the regions are the backbone for the economic development of the modern state, as well as in the political system, where the regions are the basis for democracy and autonomy. The role of regions in the legal system is particularly important, given that most EU legislation is implemented at local and regional level.