Cross-border Cooperation Projects Research Articles

Beyond the interruption: tools for the evaluation and re-signification of unfinished public works

The paper focuses on unfinished public constructions that represent an anomaly and an urgency with environmental, economic and even social consequences. The prerequisite of the research is the possibility that unfinished buildings can be considered opportunities to start new building processes consistently with the renewed needs of the contemporary situation, and not as a shared set of disvalues. The use of a specific methodological framework and programmatic strategies can direct the interventions, evaluating the suggested potential performance, and trigger virtuous and accessible cycles of signification and actualisation. The paper derives from a doctoral research and has been developed within the activities of the cross-border cooperation project CUBÂTI.

The border in common: The Janus-faced place attachment of cross-border regions

For several decades, cross-border areas have been the setting for the successive deployment of various cross-border cooperation and integration mechanisms. These mechanisms aim primarily to facilitate mobility and interaction between actors through cross-border cooperation projects designed to create institutional cross-border areas. The current article takes an approach centred on attachment to places with the aim of determining whether cross-border areas make sense for their inhabitants. The analyses are based on a cross-sectional survey of 3,200 inhabitants of three institutional cross-border areas: Greater Geneva, the Basque Eurocity and the Eurometropolis of Lille Kortrijk Tournai. The methodology introduces into the field of border studies the technique of structural equation models for the measurement of place attachment using different explanatory variables. Several original results are found. First, place attachment is composed of both the sense of belonging to a country and the residential location of the members ego’s (the respondent) personal network. Second, two notable forms of attachment have an ambivalent relationship within the institutional cross-border areas: attachment to the border region of residence and attachment to the neighbouring border region. Specifically, the estimated attachment to the neighbouring border region favours the declared attachment to the institutional cross-border area. Subsequently, the estimated attachment to either border region also helps explain the choice of location for regular activities. Finally, the reported attachment to the institutional cross-border area is dependent on the individual’s social position. These results open up new perspectives on European integration policies that could rely more strongly on attachment to strengthen social cohesion in institutional cross-border areas.

Social entrepreneurial ecosystems in Euroregions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the knowledge of social entrepreneurial ecosystems and test their effect on social entrepreneurial activity in a cross-border context. Design/methodology/approach The current research used the fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis method on a sample of 4,357 cross-border cooperation (CBC) projects implemented between 2014 and 2020, spread over 40 Euroregions. Findings Single ecosystem elements can be sufficient conditions but with a limited effect on cross-border social entrepreneurship. Configurations of ecosystem elements can be necessary conditions with synergetic effects. A geographical pattern was identified in the spread of configurations across Europe. Research limitations/implications Geographical, quantitative and project data constraints exist. The authors call for research into synergies between ecosystem elements in cross-border contexts and ecosystem patterns across Europe. Practical implications Policymakers, their cross-border counterparts and Euroregions could coordinate their efforts to improve ecosystems’ impact and involve social entrepreneurs to scale impact in neighboring countries. Social implications Involving social entrepreneurs in CBC projects will show how social impact in one country can be valuable for solving issues in the neighboring country. This will increase the valuation of innovative solutions, create opportunities for scaling social impact and contribute to the European (EU) Cohesion Policy. Originality/value The study uses a novel approach by investigating the effect of social entrepreneurial ecosystems in Euroregions on social entrepreneurial activity in a cross-border context. The study shows that the impact of social entrepreneurial ecosystems does not stop at the country’s borders.

The implications of the EU cohesion policy instruments and cross-border cooperation projects on social entrepreneurship in Euroregions

The current paper investigates the implications of the EU Cohesion Policy instrument Interreg through the implementation of cross-border cooperation projects on social entrepreneurship. Cross-border cooperation projects are implemented in Euroregions and invest in new knowledge and innovative solutions in policy priorities spread over social, environmental, and economic domains. Policy priorities in social and environmental domains overlap fields of play where social entrepreneurs operate. We build on the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship and use a quantitative design to investigate the influence of EU-funded cross-border cooperation projects on the number of social enterprises in Luxembourg. We employed a rolling window analysis with ARIMA on a sample of 207 cross-border cooperation projects implemented between 2000 and 2020. We predicted social entrepreneurial activity in Euroregions in Luxembourg using investments through the EU Cohesion Policy in the social, environmental, and economic domains and identified a positive relationship in the social domain. The current study shows that investments in the social domain positively and significantly predict social entrepreneurial activity, supporting the critical role of the EU Cohesion Policy on social entrepreneurship. Our study discusses how social entrepreneurship can benefit from EU cross-border cooperation projects as recipients of potential knowledge spillovers.

Organizational forms of cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions

The article examines the organizational forms of cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions. It has been established that currently, it is essential not only to restore the destroyed infrastructure of the health care system but also to restore the health of war victims, as well as the development of an appropriate health care system in connection with the integration of Ukraine into the European Union. It was determined that in such unclear and risky conditions, it is necessary to strengthen the ability to develop cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions in Ukraine with the relevant healthcare institutions of neighboring states, member states of the European Union, namely: Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania through various available organizational forms. It was established that there are various organizational forms through which health care institutions can implement cross-border cooperation. It was determined that the use of such a form for cooperation as a European grouping of territorial cooperation on the external border of the European Union will be useful both for the exchange of experience of neighboring health care institutions of the member states of the European Union and health care institutions of Ukraine, as well as for their possible effective participation in programs and implementation of cross-border cooperation projects, which would be aimed at the development of the health care sector in order to provide the population with affordable medical care. It was noted that because of the events taking place due to the full-scale invasion of the russian federation into Ukraine, namely the devastating consequences for the health of thousands of people, then it would be expedient to create such a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation on the external border of the European Union with Ukraine. It was established when comparing the legislation of neighboring states, the member states of the European Union, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania, and analyzing the provisions of European Union regulatory acts regarding the activities of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, it appears that the list of participants of such a grouping may be somewhat wider.

Natural additives as reinforcement for mortars: Comparative evaluation of gypsum-based plasters with pistachio shells and orange peels

This research explores the use of waste from agriculture and food production (agro-food waste) as a green additive in building gypsum plasters. The focus is on lightweight mortars made with bio-based materials, aiming for a solution that aligns with green building principles and circular economy practices. Current research prioritizes examining the physical and mechanical properties of these bio-based mortars. These mortars often have high porosity and lower weight, making them good thermal insulators and sound absorbers. While not yet widely used in construction, they hold promise as a sustainable alternative with performance comparable or even exceeding conventional plasters in thermal and acoustic insulation. In particular, the cultural premises of this study refer to the shared identity between Sicily and Tunisia, focused by a recent strategic cross-border cooperation project CUBÂTI, Culture du bâti de qualité: recherche, innovation et entreprise pour la durabilité, funded by Italy-Tunisie Programme 2014-2020. In fact, the present experimental research has focused on two materials easy to find in these countries, applying a replicable method to other regions in the Mediterranean area. In this study, the performances of gypsum-based plasters with pistachio shells and orange peels as additives were evaluated. Several tests were carried out on the developed materials to optimize their mix design, verify their mechanical and physical properties and the results of the comparative investigations showed interesting results in terms of mechanical resistance, thermal conductivity and reduction of water absorption.

Biobased mortars in the Mediterranean context: The contribution of the CUBÂTI project within cross-border cooperation

The Mediterranean context is a transition zone between the temperate and tropical belts, developing in some regions between 20° and 40° North and South latitude. Typical flora of the Mediterranean bush includes holm oak, cork oak, heather, myrtle, rosemary, laurel, oleander, orange, prickly pear, caper, and pistachio. The research carried out as part of the cross-border cooperation project CUBÂTI “Culture du bâti de qualité: recherche, innovation et entreprise pour la durabilité,” funded by the Italy-Tunisie Programme 2014-2020, identified some of these plant species, linked to production waste from the agro-food sector of Sicily and Tunisia, to experiment with new additives to be used as reinforcement in plaster mortars. Furthermore, with the objective of improving circular processes and reducing the use of natural resources, we preferred to use local binders that are not resource-intensive, such as gypsum and clay. The activities were conducted through intense collaboration between research institutes and manufacturing companies to intensify technological transfer and raise awareness towards the use of more environmentally sustainable materials. The results obtained from the experimentation, which included durability tests of the developed materials, demonstrated that the controlled addition of plant fibres could be a sustainable way to improve some performances of plaster mortars.

Fuzzy multicriteria evaluation model of cross-border cooperation projects under resource curse conditions

The main goal of this study is to develop a fuzzy multicriteria evaluation model of heterogeneous cross-border cooperation projects to ensure sustainable development of neighbouring regions, taking into account the goals of the announced competition and the possibility of avoiding the resource curse. The model allows you to compare projects of cross-border cooperation of different categories, takes into account expert linguistic conclusions on projects, considers the compliance of the challenge project, moves from expert conclusions to quantitative assessments. At the output of the model, we have an aggregated quantitative assessment of the project and a ranking of cross-border projects is built for their selection and financing. The results of the study can be useful for managers of cross-border project tenders, with the aim of improving the validity of supporting decision-making and sustainable development of neighbouring regions through the prism of the curse, both natural and human resources.

INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN DANUBE REGION IN THE CONTEXT OF COHESION POLICY

INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION DEVELOPMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN DANUBE REGION IN THE CONTEXT OF COHESION POLICY

Cross-border cooperation - a tool for capitalizing and promoting culture and historical heritage

The purpose of this article is to analyze cross-border cooperation as one of the important multifunctional tools aimed at developing good neighborly relations with states on the borders of the European Union, as well as supporting economic and social development and promoting European values in partner countries in the context of EU enlargement. The long-term objectives of cross-border cooperation projects aim at: creating more bilateral benefits; improving the physical and economic infrastructure; human resources development of the region; deepening cultural and educational ties; preparing for EU membership; environmental protection etc. Cross-border cooperation is favored by cultural heritage, ethno-linguistic heritage, historical heritage or the presence of national minorities. The Romanian community in Ukraine or the Ukrainian community in Romania, the common ethno-linguistic heritage of the population of Romania and the Republic of Moldova are favorable elements in the process of cross-border cooperation.

The Financial – Economic Factors in the Strategic Planning of European Borderlands: Envisioning the So-Desired Sustainable Development

In Europe, there are a considerable number of borderlands involving various Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) projects, plans, and strategies. It is a well-known fact that these border synergies are perceived as very intricate processes. Consequently, research projects that focus on different variables, factors, and perspectives that could affect the success or failure of the common border projects are essential to achieve consistent regional sustainability. In fact, we believe there is a gap on the perception and implementation of some of the critical factors for territorial success in borderlands by the regional main actors. Thereby, this study through the use of exploratory tools as top-to-bottom questionnaires examines the border cooperation of eleven CBC projects (twenty-one European cities) focusing on the financial-economic theme. Besides, the research permits us to recognize and isolate the two main decisive factors to consider from a financial-economic: (i) Strong territorial strategy; (ii) Access to European funds. Moreover, this study shows that the CBC could be used as a catalyst for creating job opportunities in these regions.

Premises and barriers associated with cross-border cooperation - evidence from border regions of Poland

The aim of the work detailed here has been to identify the most important premises upon which cross-border cooperation can be established, the conditions for its further continuation or lack of continuation; and the key barriers to and benefits from the cooperation in question. Also examined was the intensity of cooperation in the periods before, during and after the implementation of individual cross-border cooperation projects – the aim being to assess the extent to which joint projects generate mutual relations of greater intensity. Analysis drew on a questionnaire survey run among all organisations involved in the implementation of Poland’s EU-funded cross-border cooperation projects in the 2007–2020 period.

Pipe organ and organ music in Poland as a part of world heritage

The pipe organ, as a musical instrument and an important object of cultural heritage, has been gaining increasing interest from the international community in recent years. This paper aims at examining the possibilities of preserving organs and organ music in Poland in an international context. As part of the study, an analysis of UNESCO lists was conducted. Furthermore, the organ-building assets in Poland and tourist products developed on their basis (including cultural trails dedicated to organs and organ museums) were studied. Attention was also drawn to other sites and forms of the organ of possible interest to tourists, and to the functioning of organ festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual organ projects implemented in that period. In addition, public awareness concerning the organ in Poland and Europe as well as organ festivals and other associated tourist products was examined. Finally, actions aimed at preserving Poland’s organ heritage were proposed with reference to practices in other European countries. It was concluded that one of the possible ways to integrate the conservation of organ heritage is a comprehensive approach through the landscape. Organs and their music also form a part of the local landscape, both as landforms reminiscent of the instruments and as artistic installations and sounds, shaping a sense of local and regional identity. It is also very important to engage in cross-border cooperation (including an exchange of good practices) and educational projects with regard to the safeguarding of organ heritage.

Problems and Prospects of Cross-Border Cooperation in Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to analyze the current state of cross-border cooperation in Ukraine, characterize the main problems and outline the prospects for its development.
 The article considers the importance of cross-border cooperation for Ukraine, which consists in the possibility of solving common economic, cultural and environmental problems with the border regions of neighboring countries, attracting foreign capital, creating new jobs, equalizing territorial disparities in development.
 The history of formation of cross-border cooperation in the country is analyzed. It was found that the first Euroregion in Ukraine, the Carpathian one, was established in 1993, and in 1996 Ukraine became a member of the Tacis CBC Cross-Border Cooperation Program.
 The composition of the legal framework for the regulation of cross-border cooperation is studied, the conclusion is made about the declarative nature of state programs for its development.
 The problems hindering the development of cross-border cooperation in Ukraine are described. The main ones are the following: insufficient financial support for the implementation of cross-border cooperation projects and programs; insufficient level of project management quality at the level of subjects and participants of cross-border cooperation; inefficient use of borrowed funds; lack of official statistical information in the field of cross-border cooperation.
 Perspective directions of development of cross-border cooperation in Ukraine are outlined, among which it is necessary to allocate: creation of the uniform scientifically substantiated concept of cross-border cooperation of Ukraine with the EU member states which would consider the general European and national priorities; developing a clear mechanism for raising funds at the national level to ensure cross-border cooperation programs; improving existing mechanisms for obtaining and using EU technical assistance; intensification of formation and development of cross-border clusters.

Legal forms of participation of Ukrainian citizens in cross-border cooperation

The article examines the legal forms of participation of Ukrainian citizens in cross-border cooperation. It is established that the European Framework Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Com-munities or Authorities does not explicitly establish forms of involvement of citizens in cross-border co-oper-ation, but does not restrict them. It was found that citizens are members of local communities and they can not directly and indirectly benefit from cross-border cooperation, so their participation in such processes should not be limited.The provisions of Protocol № 3 to the European Framework Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities concerning Euroregional Co-operation Associations of 16 November 2009 are analyzed. It is established that this protocol clearly regulates the consideration of the interests of individuals in the activities of associations of Euroregional cooperation.The activity of Euroregions formed with the participation of separate territories of Ukraine («Lower Danube», «Upper Prut», «Dniester» and «Carpathian Euroregion») is studied, clearly confirms the involvement of citizens in cross-border cooperation projects. The legal bases of involvement of citizens in the decision of important problems of territorial communities, including the account of their opinion in the course of cross-border cooperation are ana-lyzed. Among the analyzed forms, public consultations, citizens’ appeals and electronic petitions, general meetings of citizens and public budgets were highlighted.It is proposed to classify the legal forms of citizens’ participation in cross-border cooperation as follows: direct forms of participation (first of all, participation of citizens in cross-border cooperation projects, including such events as round tables, conferences, seminars, trainings, etc.); indirect forms of participation (forms of citizen participation aimed at ensuring that their views are taken into account in the process of cross-border cooperation, in particular through: public consultations, citizens’ appeals, general meetings, public budgets, public hearings, local initiatives, etc.).

Cross-border cooperation to strengthen innovation and knowledge transfer: An Iberian case

This study seeks to find out the main achievements of a cross-border cooperation project (INESPO III) in terms of innovation and university-firm knowledge transfer in a region situated in the central region of Portugal and Castile and León, Spain. To achieve this aim, research of a qualitative and exploratory nature was chosen., that is, case study method. Data collection was based on seven interviews with several project actors, and content analysis was also used. Through interviews with project beneficiaries, empirical evidence suggests that this type of cooperation allows access to new sources of external knowledge, with the network benefiting globally from each partner’s type of specialization. This study makes an important contribution to the literature on cross-border cooperation by extending its field of research to knowledge transfer and innovation, analysing a project that has produced good results. It can be determinant for government institutions responsible for administering cross-border incentive systems, and for partner networks in drawing process of similar projects for benefit of their own regions, besides the clear academic interest in business cooperation networks. Final results and main contributions of the project are also presented.

Where there is a will, there is a way: some remarks on institutional distance in the Polish-German borderland

This study concerns the problem of institutional distance between local government units, and its impact on the cross-border cooperation of regional and local authorities in the Polish-German borderland. Contrary to cross-border cooperation per se, the analyzed notion is not featured regularly in the subject literature. Above all, the existing studies focus on the forms of, barriers to, and conditions for cross-border cooperation, the assessment of cross-border cooperation projects co-financed by the EU, and the broadly conceived social and economic cross-border ties. On the other hand, there is a shortage of studies analyzing the competencies of various local government units with regard to cross-border cooperation. Hence, this article examines the competencies of local government units with respect to cross-border cooperation based on the example of the Polish-German borderland. The adopted research method involves the analysis of the subject literature, domestic legislation in Poland and Germany, and the documents and legal acts of the Council of Europe and the EU.

Cross-border Cooperation in the Field of Investment Activity with Regional Development Implications

The article focuses on the issue of cross-border cooperation in the field of investment activity and its impact on the sustainable regional development. In particular, subsidy funds of the European Union are closely linked to regional development. This article covers the research of mapping the situation of cross-border cooperation of the territory of interest, which is partly formed by the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic and partly by the Trnava and Bratislava Regions in the Slovak Republic. This area comprises 43 municipalities in the Czech Republic and 70 municipalities in the Slovak Republic. The questionnaire survey carried out showed that cross-border cooperation is more applied in the Czech Republic, while the Slovak Republic is more sceptical about the cross-border cooperation projects. Based on the evaluation of the questionnaires, a specific investment project was chosen between the municipalities of Mikulčice and Kopčany, which was financed through the European Regional Development Fund, specifically the Interreg V-A programme the Slovak Republic – Czech Republic. Analysis of the current state of financing was carried out for this project with proposals of possible other financing options. At the end of the article, the impact of the project on the sustainable development of border regions is evaluated.

АКТУАЛЬНІ ПИТАННЯ СПІВРОБІТНИЦТВА УКРАЇНИ З МІЖНАРОДНИМИ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЯМИ У СФЕРІ ФОРМУВАННЯ ТА РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ПОЛІТИКИ РЕГІОНАЛЬНОГО РОЗВИТКУ

The aim of the article is to research the modern practices of Ukrainian state cooperation with international organizations in the sphere of development and implementation of the regional policy for discovery of types of those interactions under the decentralization reform. Albeit the huge number of publications on the current problems of implementation of regional policy and decentralization reform, the most biggest part of authors understand cooperation between Ukraine and international organizations on regional policy as cross-border cooperation and cooperation of bordering communities of Ukraine and EU member-states. Base on the open data analysis of the state authorities of Ukraine authors provide conclusions that the sufficient part of the financial support provided by EU for assisting Ukraine in development and implementation of the state regional policy is equal or bigger than the amount of state support provided for implementation of the cross-border cooperation projects. Authors reviewed significant empirical material and practices of interactions on support for Ukrainian regional development between Ukraine and such international organizations as European Union (EU), Council of Europe (CoE), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OSCD), German Society of International Cooperation (GIZ), US Agency for International Development (USAID). Article proposes summarizing of modern trends in the sphere of development and implementation of the state regional policy. The Authors underlined a format of those interactions and proposed ways for increasing of cooperation with international organizations through the improvement of legal, institutional, organizational and methodological capabilities of the public management of regional development policy. Practical aim of this publication is development and implementation of scientifically based approach for increasing efficiency of Ukraine’s cooperation with international organizations in the sphere of development of regional policy. Based in the analysis of implementation of technical assistance projects and programs authors provided their proposals for increasing their efficiency. In addition, recommendations are given to the state authorities on the consequence of project’s results and objectives with a new State strategy on regional development for 2021-2027.

EU-Russian cross-border cooperation between (de-)securitization and paradiplomacy: In search of new approaches towards cross-border governance

For almost 30 years, cross-border cooperation between Russia and the European Union has been balancing between cooperation and control, geopolitics and paradiplomacy. In different periods of relations, the dominance of one or another logic of development is noticeable. In the “post-Crimean” period of international relations in Europe, cross-border cooperation remained one of the few spheres of interaction between Russia and the EU which showed somewhat positive dynamics, or at least had not degraded significantly. The Karelian section of the Russian state border attracted close attention from both Russian and Western researchers in the 1990s due to the rapid pace of institutionalization of cross-border cooperation. The creation of Euregio “Karelia” in 2000 and the launch of cross-border cooperation programs within the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy helped to maintain research interest. In recent years, the negative dynamics of relations between Russia and the EU has led to a noticeable decrease in the research interest to some issues of EU-Russian cross-border cooperation. At the same time, cross-border cooperation projects continue to have a positive impact on the development of border communities, and the cross-border governance system continues to develop and transform. Thus, the study of the dynamics of cross-border cooperation in the Euregio “Karelia” is still of scientific interest. It makes it possible to answer specific questions about the peculiarities of interaction between Karelia and Finland, as well as more general questions related to EU-Russian relations. Based on the analysis of discursive cooperation practices inherent to different participants of the cross-border cooperation in the Euregio “Karelia”, the article shows why positive interaction of actors is still possible, and what vector of development can be expected for the regional cooperation between Russia and the EU in the medium-term perspective.