The study is about the North-Western development regions of Romania, and also the spatial, social and economic development of Bihor county is analysed. Spatial disparities are shown compared to the EU-27, the member state volume index and to the national and region average. The differences amongst the economic performance of the eight Romanian development regions have been increased during 2000–2010. While in 2000 the differences between the GDP of the weakest and best performing regions have been 69.23% and 215%, it increased to 63 and 241% by 2010. Half of the GDP per capita of the EU-27 average has been exceeded only by one region (Western: 53%), the rest of the regions remained below that; only Bucharest-Ilfo...