''Europe of the regions'' and the federalization of Europe

There is a close connection between regionalism, federalism, and the movement to create a united federal Europe. The recent movement to create a ''Europe of the Regions'' is one expression of these connections. However, there are many kinds of regions, and certain forms of regional policy that may not necessarily be an expression of either regionalism or European federalism. It might be said, nevertheless, that a ''Europe of the Regions'' is emerging in the weaker sense that, in today's Europe, significant changes are taking place in the nature and functions of the nation-state. These changes are providing new opportunities for regions to become more important policy actors in a wider European context. The nation-state, however, is unlikely to disappear.