How Regional is the Supply Chain in the Enlarged EU?

Abstract

This paper explores the regionalisation of the European Union’s supply chains and the impact of enlargement by looking at trends in trade in intermediate products between 1995-2007. The findings show that enlargement has not significantly impacted overall levels of regionalization although it has led to quite major changes in the division of labor within the EU. In addition, the impacts have been very varied depending on the sector involved. There has been a greater consolidation of the EU supply chain in medium-tech and up-market goods while in low-market and high-tech goods, market share has been ceded to non-EU sources.