Interregional Cooperation Research Articles

Smart specialisation policy strategy for interregional cooperation: pushing less-developed regions

Smart specialisation policy strategy for interregional cooperation: pushing less-developed regions

Regional grain production – some problems and peculiarities

Purpose and objectives. The purpose was to study and articulate some problems and peculiarities of the development of interregional cooperation between scientists and producers of various forms of ownership for the implementation of breeding innovations and modern technologies at the regional level.
 Materials and Methods. Based on the results of monitoring of the regional market of grain products and practical experience of scientists of the Eastern Interregional Research Center of NAAS and Institute of Agriculture of the Northeast of NAAS, aspects of some problems and peculiarities of interregional cooperation between scientists with producers of different forms of ownership for the implementation of breeding innovations and modern technologies at the regional level were investigated.
 Methods: dialectical, abstract-logical, monographic, computational-constructive, economic-statistical, graphic modeling, etc.
 Results and discussion. Some problems and peculiarities of grain production at the regional level were studied and articulated. Unsatisfactory economic situation, lack of funds in producers of spiked cereal seeds for the reproduction of advanced capital, insufficient solvency of consumers lead to a gradual decline in profitability of the seed and grain industries.
 Diligent work of farmers takes place under difficult market conditions, because a significant increase in production costs and lack of funds for quality performance of technological processes negatively affect the producers’ interest and they become unable to invest their money in the domestic grain production. After acquiring all the necessary features, a created variety or a hybrid of spiked cereals is introduced as an innovation, with appropriate information and marketing support.
 Conclusions. Based on the above, one can assert that it is important to define market mechanisms for the transfer of breeding innovations and modern technologies that would stimulate innovation activities of agrarian scientists due to creation of competitive scientific products, contributing to a rise in their profitability and commercial interest of grain producers.
 Thus, the study indicates a number of problems that cause imperfect development of the seed industry and, as a consequence, a decrease in the efficiency of grain production in our country. It would be important to improve the system of state support for grain producers at all stages of grain production.

Russia - Latin America Economic Cooperation: Insights from EU - CELAC Sustainable Development Concept

The article considers cooperation patterns between the European Union (EU) and CELAC (Community of Latin America and the Caribbean) in the context of creatively applying this experience to a broader topic of Russia - Latin America multilevel cooperation. The concept of sustainable development, which implies interaction in accordance with its three main dimensions: environmental, social and economic, is adopted on the global level. The interaction between EU and CELAC contributes to the progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development, where a lot of attention is paid to the green economy, alternative energy, and social aspects, since the environmental aspects constraints are providing the most significant impetus to structural changes in the existing development paradigm. This in return is expected to create a model that ensures economic growth based on a green economy, alternative energy, with greater equality and social inclusiveness. At supranational level in the European Union an effective and systemic policy has been formed in the field of nature conservation and combating climate change, which without a doubt can be considered one of the most progressive ones in the world, which creates potential for sharing these experiences with less developed and fortunate nations. European programs for Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have become an important factor in the development of interregional cooperation in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and countering natural disasters. The article also focuses on the most recent changes that have occurred in the sphere of interaction between CELAC and EU in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Massive structural and conceptual changes that have seriously reshaped the priorities and funding of joint programmers between two organizations reflects new priorities for sustainable development in general when it comes to new world realities in post-pandemic world, and could be useful for Russian model for the relations with this region.

Закордонний досвід стимулювання та вирівнювання регіонального розвитку

decades. The need to effectively build relations with the regions, which is facing not only national governments but also the supranational institutions created by them, was noted.It is determined that regional issues require a comprehensive study, given that the experience of such interactions can be used to some extent in Ukraine. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to study the foreign experience of stimulating and equalizing regional development, the role of integration processes in the formation of regional science,identified the main forms of interregional cooperation within the EU, namely the association “Euroregion”, working communities and interregional organizations and identified the main problems that arise in improving the management system of regions in the context of equalization of their development. Results. This research showsthat the relevance of regional issues (as well as the degree of activity of the regions) is different in the EU member states, the contribution of the regions of different countries to the development of regional movement is asymmetric.It was noted that the initiation of structural policy and EU funding has given impetus to the economic development of the regions, strengthening their financial position.This paper researched the main forms of interregional cooperation within the EU - associations such as “Euroregion”, working communities and interregional organizations, identified their main differences.It has been proven that interregional associations of various types contribute to the creation of consolidated interest and its promotion among national governments and supranational institutions of the EU. It is determined that in their development the organizations of interregional cooperation are guided by two strategies - firstly, it is investment in the development of skills of members, which will later bring dividends in the form of additional profits, and secondly - the impact on institutions in order to change the existing rules of the game in the European economic arena. The basic principles of activity of regional associations are defined. The change of mechanisms of realization of EU regional policy is noted, namely transition to regionalization of management and transfer of functions and resources to the lowest territorial level of management.The most important directions of modern regional policy of developed countries aimed at modernization of the economy are considered. Conclusions. This research shows that the role of regions in the political system of Europe has increased significantly in recent years.Considering the role of regions in cooperation with all decision-making bodies (both national and supranational), we can conclude that the regions have taken their own niche in the political system of the European Union, which resulted in the emergence of a new theoretical approach that characterizes the system of government in the EU – «multilevel governance».The paper identifies the conditions under which Ukraine can use the European experience of regional development.

Implementation of the Integration Component of Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies: Scientific and Methodological Approach

The article discusses the formation issues of the integration component of regional strategies for smart specialisation, including the use of Interregional and cross-border cooperation in strategically important areas. The relevance and potential of activating European partnerships for Ukrainian regions within the framework of strategies for smart specialisation were emphasized. In order to adapt and develop the methodological support developed in the EU, a scientific and methodological approach to assessing potential partnerships in the formation of regional smart specialisation strategies has been justified. It is proposed to perform a set of diagnostic and communication procedures to identify and assess the prospects for interregional cooperation for each project initiative at the participatory stage of the entrepreneurial discovery process. Measures to identify potential partnerships include the following: justification of the feasibility of partnership and integration into existing cluster-network structures; identification of possible partners and study of their potential and interests; assessment of the readiness of regional stakeholders for partnership; formation of partnership proposals for a specific smart priority. This additional stage will allow to determine the possibilities of resource-competent strengthening of regional priorities of smart specialisation by combining knowledge and assets with innovatively active European regions. The proposed author’s scientific and methodological approach to assessing the potential of cluster-network partnership of Ukrainian regions and EU member states is based on the calculation of an integral indicator that takes into account the assessment of innovative cooperation of each region and its cluster-network activity in a specific thematic area of smart specialisation. The structure is shown and the content of calculation procedures for determining the integral indicator of the potential of cluster-network interaction of the region based on information and analytical data of European ratings and platforms is developed. The scientific and methodological approach has been tested on the example of Chemicals thematic partnership. The definition of groups of indicators for assessing innovative cooperation and cluster-network activity of 13 regions of the European Union, which are part of this partnership, has been consistently disclosed. A rating of chemical regions was formed to assess the potential of cluster-network interaction.

Międzyrządowy wymiar polsko-rosyjskiej współpracy transgranicznej i międzyregionalnej

This article offers a presentation of the Polish-Russian cross-border and interregional cooperation at the intergovernmental level. To this end, it refers to specific international documents on the basis of which three Polish- Russian institutions have been established to coordinate this area of cooperation. In addition to a conceptual framework outlined, the text includes a short historical outline to help the reader trace the beginnings and development of the Polish-Russian cross-border and interregional cooperation in the adopted approach. When describing the activities of intergovernmental councils and commissions, the author draws attention to their positions in the central administration and their structures, listing specific areas of mutual cooperation. The presentation ends with an attempt to evaluate the activities of the said bodies and the search for new perspectives in the context of the upcoming thirtieth anniversary of the agreement on cross-border cooperation with Russia.

Inter-Regional Cooperation in Waste Management: New Trends in Moscow and the Moscow Region

Abstract Globalization metrics rank Moscow as an alpha global city and the second most populous city in Europe. The city’s rate of urbanization and population growth has increased over the past decade triggering outward urban sprawl and the attendant need for spatial development within the city’s suburb – the Moscow Region municipality. This study focuses on internal factors and trends facilitating the need for inter-municipal waste management cooperation between the Moscow metropolis and the Moscow Region municipality. The paper reviews the policies driving this partnership and the inter-sectoral network facilitating waste management. Partnership effectiveness is evaluated via a multi-indicator approach, alongside qualitative thematic analysis comprising public surveys and the review of legal, administrative and operational documents. The findings reveal that cooperation between the municipalities is primarily driven by the convergence of socio-cultural factors, common territorial boundaries, the provision of public utilities and urban spatial constraints.

INFRASTRUCTURE OF DISTANCE WORK IN CONDITIONS OF CORONACRISIS

The concept of remote work is considered in the article, its characteristic features are investigated. Situational, planned, fixed types and two types (type of employment and type of self-employment) of remote work are determined. The author’s definition of the terms “remote work” and “remote worker” is given. Emphasis is placed on the main problems of infrastructural support of remote work in the regions of Ukraine. The author emphasizes that the need for flexibility of remote work infrastructure, its foresight, innovation, adaptability to challenges, ability to mobilize the region’s resource potential in overcoming crises should motivate domestic officials to reconsider regional development priorities. The expediency of building a viable infrastructure for remote work in Ukraine, which could operate on different fronts simultaneously and synchronously, is substantiated. The author’s interpretation of the concept of “remote work infrastructure” as a system of regulatory, organizational, technical and informational components that help transform remote workers into active agents who are able to independently or with the help of the employer to create autonomous remote jobs anywhere and perform functional tasks , minimize costs, increase motivation and productivity. A conceptual model of the system of remote work infrastructure at the regional level is proposed. It is proved that the determinant of the functioning of effective remote work infrastructure is increasing the attractiveness of remote work in the regions of Ukraine, ensuring the continuity of enterprises, firms, institutions and organizations, increasing new decent remote jobs, expanding remote employment, dynamic living standards and improving health. creating equal employment opportunities for all citizens; reduction of costs of labor market participants, increase of labor productivity; reduction of regional asymmetries, strengthening of interregional cooperation, increase of digitalization and transformation of economic changes in the regions of Ukraine.

Ecological Approach for the Evaluation of Structure and Sustainability in the Tourism Industry

Badaling is the main tourism area in Beijing. The development of tourism has generated considerable economic benefit in this region, but the tourism industry also brought considerable environmental pressure. To obtain a targeted upgrade plan for metropolitan tourism industry, static and dynamic analysis methods were used to quantitatively estimate the structure of the tourism industry in this region. In addition, the ecological footprint and ecosystem capacity models were used to evaluate the sustainable development of tourism. The results show that: (1) The structure of tourism in Badaling is better than that of Beijing, but the growth rate of tourism earnings is slower than the average value in Beijing. Overall, the region lacks competitiveness and the tourism industry in the area is in dire need of an upgrade; (2) the total ecological footprint due to tourism in the Badaling region is 381,098.28 hm2, and the ecosystem capacity is 4509.61 hm2. It is in an obvious ecological deficit, and the development of the tourism industry is unsustainable. To relieve the pressure on the ecology in the Badaling region, we propose four policy suggestions: (1) develop disadvantaged sectors and enhance tourism industry competitiveness, (2) boost tourist transportation revenues relying on the Winter Olympic Games, (3) grow cultural and creative products and expand sales channels, and (4) strengthen inter-regional cooperation and alleviate local ecological pressure.

Blue economy: The past and present from the world and future directions for Thailand

This commentary article aims to summarize the past and present research of the blue economy from developing and developed nations and anticipates future research directions in the domain of blue economy policy research for Thailand. The importance of environmental protection, economic distribution, and social equality in the past were discussed and the present research shifted to addressing the complexity and defining the all-inclusive blue economy and all-inclusive participation, multiple stakeholder involvement and inter-regional cooperation, and global partnerships for knowledge and technology exchange. New blue economy sectors, such as ‘bioprospecting’, are also emerging in the present. However, the core concepts, such as defining ‘Blue Economy’, ‘Overfishing’, and ‘sustainable growth’, are still under debate. There is a perceptual disagreement among stakeholders in developing countries. Future directions in this research domain are also presented. This study concludes that future blue economy policies, plans, and implementation related research on blue economy must take account of environmental regulations and all-inclusive economic developmental plans that are measurable in terms of economic, environmental, and socio-cultural sustainability.

What Determines Foreign Direct Investment in Indonesia?

This study aims to determine the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Indonesia's manufacturing sector. This study uses time-series data with 40 data observations starting from the 1st quarter of 2010 to the 4th quarter of 2020. The data analysis method employed in this research was Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration approach. The research results were that in the long run, the exchange rate and GDP growth had a positive effect, inflation had a negative effect, and gross fixed capital formation did not affect the FDI inflows in the manufacturing sector. This research implies that the government must be able to create or develop policies related to foreign direct investment to provide benefits for economic development in Indonesia. The government's efforts to control inflation have to be strengthened continuously by maintaining the availability of supply and distribution of goods. Supply continuity and smooth distribution between regions have to be further improved through the utilization of information technology and the strengthening of inter-regional cooperation. Likewise, efforts to increase economic growth have to continue to be improved by providing incentives or facilities to companies at various levels, both those that are export-oriented and those that focus on domestic sales.

Assessment of the Impact of Cloud Technologies on Social Life in the Era of Digitalization

<span lang="EN-US">Due to the expansion of new digital trends in the strategic development of territorial units, it became necessary to structure the socio-economic effects from the introduction of innovative technologies grounded on cloud computing. Realized the identification of cloud technologies impact on the social life in the era of digitalization, an online conference was held between representatives of government, business, science, and education of the Republics of Karelia, Komi, Adygea, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kalmykia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Krasnodar Krai and Stavropol Krai (Russian Federation). In the context of innovative possibilities of platform economy, in discussion were identified the key effects of the cloud solutions implementation in the Russian Federation regions development prospect strategy. Namely, development of social and human capital, improvement of the quality and standard of living in a region, improvement of social interaction, development of social constructivism, economic potential, and competitiveness of social capital. It has been reported that the positive social effects of cloud technologies at the level of a territorial unit are achieved by increasing digital literacy of the population and opening up new opportunities and platforms for social interaction and constructivism; providing the population with convenient services and open data for participation in active social, economic and political life. Cloud technologies help to form a digital educational environment, modernize educational programs for the preparation of high-quality labor resources, develop digital infrastructure of individual settlements, create user content to preserve socio-cultural identity, and popularize a region in the global information space. Revealed that the possibilities of cloud technologies increase the population quality of living and ensure the growth of the efficiency and productivity indicators of labor resources. The listed above are achieved by expanding the marketing capabilities of business structures, providing them with new business models and digital services; optimization of resource management, digitization of business processes, and platform organization of labor. The capabilities of cloud solutions allow for the formation of flexible and effective interregional and international cooperation in a region, having a positive impact on regional economy and social capital development.</span>

DETERMINANTS OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPACE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE: THE CONCEPT OF REGIONALIZATION IN FOCUS

Purpose - This article aims to present the results of a comprehensive analysis of the determinants of the socio-economic space of Ukraine in the context of applying to them the concept of regionalization. Design/methodology/approach - In the article, author use a set of scientific methods that ensured the conceptual integrity of the study, in particular: system -- to study the structural development of the economy of the regions of Ukraine; methods of dialectical reasoning, induction, deduction - to justify strategic priorities; comparative and statistical analysis - to study the peculiarities of the development of the economy of the regions of Ukraine. Findings - The following factors of influence on the structural asymmetries and disproportions of the socio-economic development of individual regions have been identified: different adaptability of regions to the urgent requirements of economic development and conditions of competition; implementation of a regional policy to support progressive activities; the need to adapt to negative external and internal shock fluctuations in a pandemic; redistribution of resources and capital in favor of more developed regions; lack of systemic structural reforms at the macroeconomic level. A high level of openness of the Ukrainian economy was recorded due to a significant excess of exports over imports. Therefore, attention is paid to the structuring of regions by the level of exports and capital investments. It is concluded that exports have a significant impact on the economic growth of regions, and its dynamics is dominantly determined not so much by the devaluation of the hryvnia, but caused by external demand. Originality/value – The paper tested and confirmed the hypothesis about the positive impact of the rate of structural transformations and the assessment of the impact of capital investments on the growth of the GRP of the regions of Ukraine is carried out. This made it possible to structure the regions in terms of the ratio of the indicator to its average Ukrainian value. The distribution of regions into groups with a high, medium and low level of economic development was made, and the nature of the asymmetry of the territorial structure of the Ukrainian economy was assessed: • the asymmetry of the regions of the first and second groups gravitates (due to concentration) towards the central and eastern regions of the country (excluding the Lviv region). These regions are noted for high rates of human and social capital development and innovative activity, have the best prospects for the development of the entrepreneurial environment, the formation of a network of enterprises that can be combined into clusters; the development of a networked economy based on local growth points; • in the context of the regions' involvement in the intensity of foreign economic exchanges, the growth potential was recorded by the city of Kiev and a group of export-oriented regions (Dnipropetrivsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Poltava regions). These regions should become an impetus for the development of other regions and intensify their activity through interregional cooperation to enter the global market; • development of export-oriented regions is possible either due to increased expansion to foreign markets and higher prices or fundamental modernization of industry with a low degree of technological processing of products, and resource management. Regions that have exhausted their industrial resources should direct their development towards neo-industrialization, rehabilitation or revitalization of territories; • сompliance with global urbanization trends allows to quickly restore indicators of regional economic development in the winter period (due to the influence of internal and external shocks due to strict quarantine measures). These trends are demonstrated by the capital and individual large cities that perform the functions of world financial, innovation, information and cultural centers, as well as have developed connections with the periphery. Other regions (Lviv and others) demonstrate attempts at joint development with adjсacent territories. It is noted that the strength of the connection with other regions is more pronounced in relation to the connection with the periphery. The spread of the agglomeration effect of large cities with a population of one million produces innovative, technological and other components of the development of the potential of adjacent territories, which are characterized by an increase in the indicators of the economic efficiency of industrial production. It is expected that interregional competition will develop for the right to manage resources and determine the direction of socio-economic development of territories, the formation of new centers of economic growth, which are based on flexible networks (for example, following the virtual principle of distribution of territories). Practical consequences - the results of the study can be used by government agencies and other researchers to regulate the formation and development of regional socio-economic systems.

Development of the State System of Territorial Complex Management

Russia is currently at a fork in its economic trajectory. In this regard, issues of territorial development are particularly relevant in the country’s transition to investment-type economic growth. The investment process is the main subject of technical analysis, quality control and regulation at the state and regional levels of management. The purpose of the article is to identify the relationship between such regional characteristics as the state of the investment climate, investment attractiveness, socio-economic situation, index of physical volume of investment in fixed assets based on the analysis of state policy in the field of territorial development. The research used methods of comparative, statistical and system analysis, deduction and induction, generalization, and theoretical modeling. As a result of the study, it was revealed that the state actively supports regions – growth points where special economic zones and territories of advanced development are created, but at the same time, there is an active state support for regions with a low level of socio-economic development. A study of the basic characteristics of the investment development of the Russian regions showed that those regions in which there is a favorable investment climate tend to have high investment attractiveness. However, there is no direct correlation between the level of socio-economic development of the region and the state of its investment climate. Therefore, in order to increase the investment attractiveness of Russian regions, it is necessary to create such macroeconomic goals for Sevastopol that will help to intensify the results of investment processes, remove various bureaucratic barriers for investors in the region, develop tools for the coordinated use of territories, and actively develop interregional cooperation.

Improvement of ecological and economic mechanism of recreational tourism management in the context of European integration

The article describes the current state of development of recreational and tourist activities. The role of European integration in the context of the tourism industry is defined. The functions and properties of the Ukrainian tourist business are considered. Opportunities and risks of development of recreational and tourist activity are specified, and also roles of recreation and tourism are defined. The role of state regulation and management in increasing the level of development of recreational and tourist activities is described. The parameters of formation and increase of the level of development of recreational tourism are indicated. The ecological and economic mechanism of recreational and tourist activity in the context of European integration processes is formed. Features of functioning ecological and economic mechanism of management of development of recreational tourism are considered, and also importance of development of programs on development of recreational and tourist activity is considered. It is noted that recreation and tourism play one of the main roles in formation and development of rest physical and mental condition. Obtained a high level of efficiency from recreational tourism, people can only due to temporarily living in remote, away from home, tourist areas of recreation. European integration and globalization processes have a positive impact on the development of recreational tourism and gaining competitive advantages, providing the above components. Investment reserves have been identified as a method of increasing the competitiveness of recreational and tourist activities in Ukraine in the context of European integration. Certain tourist complexes in Ukraine form stable economic zones and development of regions of recreational and tourist activity. An important issue remains the creation of favorable investment flows for both foreign and domestic investors, which, in turn, stabilizes working conditions given the rational use of investment on a long-term basis. Thus, these problems increase the relevance of the need to improve the mechanism for the management of recreational and tourist activities, primarily by government agencies. European integration processes in Ukraine require the formation and implementation of a model of relations between recreational areas and governance structures, which should meet the requirements of regional policy of the European Union, which in the future provided more prospects for cooperation, interregional and international cooperation.

To Advance Industrial Green Technology via Environmental Governance—Evidence from China’s Industrial Sector

Industrial green technology progress is an effective way to realize high-quality economic development in China. The different competitive incentives of local governments make a difference in the intensity of environmental regulation between regions. The intensity of environmental regulation is different in different areas of the same industry, leading to the inter-regional transfer of pollution enterprises. The regional distribution of industries is different, which determines the different industries’ needs to coordinate different regions. Only when various industries realize the coordination of regional governance can they jointly promote the progress of industrial green technology. Based on data from 33 industrial sectors in China from 2001 to 2015 and considering the institutional evolution of governance synergy, this study comprehensively investigated the influence mechanism of local government environmental regulation on the industrial green technology progress using the mediating effect model. We found that environmental regulation promoted industrial technological progress through governance synergy and a low degree of inter-regional regulation coordination hindered the industries’ green technology progress. With the change in inter-regional governance synergy levels, we further discovered that the impact of environmental regulation on industrial green technology progress changed substantially. At a low level of governance synergy, environmental regulation inhibited industrial green technology progress. At a high level of governance synergy, environmental regulation promoted industrial green technology progress. While strengthening environmental regulation, we should promote inter-regional cooperation at the industry level. Only by collectively enforcing pollution regulations in industrial level can industrial green technology progress be promoted.

Spatial Shift-Share Analysis as a Tool for Studying the Economic Development of Russia’s Macroregions

Structural analysis of regional economies plays a significant role in political decision-making. In the context of Russian regional development, a new research topic emerges at the level of economic macroregions as defined in the current Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation. The present work aims to empirically evaluate the use of shift-share analysis to clarify the contribution of the neighbourhood effect in addition to national and regional growth factors. The proposed approach incorporates structural shifts of spatial interactions into the classical method using various matrices (adjacency, neighbourhood). Macroregional economic growth was decomposed on the basis of consolidated sectoral structural dynamics and national development stages from 2004–2018 to reveal specific features of structural growth. It was determined that the most significant effects at all stages are those generated by national economic policy. Regional effects are especially important for macroregions whose development is characterised by substantial state support combined with an adequate resource base. Negative values of the spatial sectoral shift persisting across all macroregions testify to the positive mutual influence of macroregional specialisation and intensified interregional cooperation. Sectoral effects were observed only for particular economic sectors or at certain macroregional development stages. Recommendations for strengthening interregional interactions are proposed on the basis of the enlarged typology of structural effects in macroregions. Comparative analysis confirmed the consistency of estimates obtained using standard and spatial shift-share methods. Future research will focus on clarifying the structure of spatial relationships and detailing actual interregional economic interactions in the form of products and goods exchanged between macroregions.

African Regional and Inter-Regional Health Governance: Early Responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic by ECOWAS and the African Union

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic brings back to the fore traditions of interconnected health governance in Africa, both at regional and inter-regional levels. Using the early pandemic responses of ECOWAS and the African Union as empirical case studies, we reconstruct (1) how already established regional actors in managing pandemics, such as the West African Health Organization (WAHO), are (2) now interacting with a newly established continental institution, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), established in response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa (2014–2016). This is bolstered by policy responses coordinated by the African Union Chairperson and (3) forms of inter-regional pandemic governance that are being developed between ECOWAS and the African Union. Against this backdrop, we briefly develop a more conceptual argument on the relevance and nature of inter-regional cooperation between the African Union and ECOWAS. First, when compared to other world regions, interlocking forms of regionalism have allowed many African governments to respond to Covid-19 early on. In view of poorly equipped national health systems, and an array of other demanding challenges, early responses have at least bought affected states time to prepare national health systems, start mutual learning and organize international assistance – despite all shortcomings that still exist. Second, regional crisis response has been an opportunity to (re)negotiate the division of labor between the African Union and ECOWAS, which has been already ongoing in the area of governance, peace and security.

European Union-Asia Pacific: Working Together on Global Security

The Asia Pacific is not only the world’s largest and most populous region, it is also home to some of its fastest growing economies. At the same time, it is also a region that contains complex security hotspots, including tensions on the Korean Peninsula and maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas. The United States and China are vying for economic and military influence in the region, affecting the balance of power and security dynamics on a global scale. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has become a key trading partner for most countries in the Asia-Pacific region and is also seeking to play a relevant role as a security actor. Both regions face the same challenges and share an interest in preserving peace in their respective areas, while upholding the rules-based international order. Specifically, the EU wants to step up its security role in the Asia-Pacific by boosting cooperation with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and other strategic partners. In the current context of huge global shifts, this article argues that the area in which the EU can make a valuable contribution to stability in the region is in supporting Asia-Pacific nations to address non-traditional security challenges. European Union, Asia Pacific, Indo Pacific, non-traditional security, interregional cooperation, ASEAN, Strategic Partnerships

Interregional cooperation in the Russian Federation in the post-COVID reality: challenges and prospects

The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously distorted the public administration systems around the world. In certain countries, like the Russian Federation, the pandemic has triggered different responses by authorities on a regional level. This article argues that the lack of the interregional coordination has exacerbated the negative effects of the pandemic both on the economic development and the well-being of citizens. The goal of this research is to search for ways to improve interregional cooperation in crises of interregional scale and importance. The main hypothesis is that the lack of interregional coordination leads to ineffective crisis management and unnecessarily prolongs the recovery process. Retrospective, statistical and comparative analysis have been used to test this hypothesis. On the example of Russia, the system of crisis management coordination on the interregional level is introduced and explained. The results of this research can be used for public policy in Russia and other federal states as well as to study coordination mechanisms on a supranational level.