The Alpine—Adriatic—Danubian Euroregion: Geo-Political and Institutional Issues

Abstract

Cross-border cooperation in Europe has evolved through a series of bottom-up initiatives, undertaken, since the late 50s, by many local and regional authorities at the European Community internal borders. These initiatives have led to the creation of over 130 Euroregions, with a large variety of organizational structures and operational strengths. The development of EU regional policy, especially in connection with the Eastern enlargement, has encouraged Member States and EU institutions to create a common institutional framework under EU law. This was done with Regulation 1082/2006 that established the EGTC. In this article we look first of all to the new possibilities that the EGTC may offer to the Euroregions, but also to the limits of that legal instrument. Hence we analyze three relevant general dimensions: the nature of EGTC identity (polycentric vs. monocentric); the size of the EGTC cross-border areas (small vs. big size; regional vs. local partners); and the functions of the EGTC (strategic and/or implementative functions). Then we discuss the possible transformation of the Alps-Adriatic Working Community, a loose structure created in 1978 in a very different socio-economic context, in an EGTC, looking in particular at the national enforcement provisions of the EGTC Regulation in Italy, Austria and Slovenia and their respective advantages and disadvantages.