Romanian-Hungarian Cross Border Cooperation and the Impact on Transnational Institution Building and EU Fund Absorption

Abstract

The border region is the collision point of cultures, religions, languages, administrations, legislations and economic influences. All these factors have substantial contribution to the development of the phenomenon called cross-border cooperation. The issue of cross-border cooperation in general goes beyond geographical, economic and legal approaches. If we intend to treat the phenomenon from a specific point of view, we will find ambiguities and uncertainties regarding the role and functioning of some institutions in the process of cross-border cooperation and partnerships. In the process of EU-integration the Hungarian-Romanian state border is becoming even more permeable. The growing permeability of the European borders contributes to the unification of the economic potentials of the neighbouring areas supplying benefits on regional and local level. The efficiency of cross-border cooperation depends on the coordination of all actors involved in this process, but also on the cooperation implemented at all levels, doubled by the existence of an adequate legal framework. The study aims to realize an inventory of the cooperation activities with had an impact on transnational institution building amongst the local governance apparatus in Bihor County in the process of cross-border cooperation in the development period 2014-2020.