Transnational Cooperation Project Research Articles

Promoting Good Governance Through Transnational Projects: A Study of Swedish Funding in Russia 1991–2005

ABSTRACTThis article explores how foreign funders may promote good governance in a country without a history of established democratic processes. It examines the travel of ideas of democracy and human rights from Sweden to Russia through transnational cooperation projects during the period 1991–2005. Considering these projects as forms of high‐stakes translations, the study finds that many of them engaged with Russian society only on a superficial level without embedding ideas in local organizational practices. Identifying the weaknesses often found in such translations, the study points to the difficulty of contributing to a democratic transformation of Russia by means of foreign‐funded projects lacking contextual anchorage.

Geoheritage and Geoconservation, from Theory to Practice: The Ghost Town of Craco (Matera District, Basilicata Region, Southern Italy)

Several theoretical and applied studies are concerned with the topics of geological heritage management and geoconservation. The diversity of natural and anthropic scenarios into which geological heritage is inserted, as well as its troublesome management, make these topics challenging for scientific discussion. However, on the other hand, these topics highlight the complexity of a theoretical schematization of approaches and procedures, as well as of the practical application of theoretical assumptions. This paper concerns a practical application of a case study in geoconservation actions, which begins with the identification and the basic description of a site of multicultural interest (characterized by the coexistence of geo and non-geo aspects); subsequently, the needs and aims of the potential end users and stakeholders are analyzed. Finally, several geoconservation actions, differentiated according to end user and stakeholder goals, are proposed. The chosen area includes the Craco ghost town in southern Italy. It is a characteristic, evocative place, where it is possible to observe natural and anthropic contexts. The Craco ghost town is also nationally and internationally renowned, since some movie productions have been set there (such as some scenes in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ movie). In this area, the abBandono vErsus riGenerazIoNe (BEGIN) Project (ROP ERDF Basilicata 2014–2020 interregional and transnational cooperation projects) aims to develop an operative, unequivocal, and multi-layered procedure focused on sustainable management, disseminating knowledge and enhancing and using the cultural context of abandoned sites as an attractive force for tourist purposes.

Social Innovation in Rural Areas of the European Union Learnings from Neo-Endogenous Development Projects in Italy and Spain

Within the framework of the LEADER approach to rural development applied in rural areas of the European Union, a high degree of social innovation (SI) has been achieved with the support of public–private partnerships. This research analyzes the different forms of SI achieved in specific projects in marginal rural areas facing depopulation. These initiatives make important, sometimes intangible, contributions to rural society, which are not sufficiently valued in rural development practice. Using an exploratory qualitative methodology, we made a selection of projects carried out in rural areas of Spain and Italy by searching for specific keywords (“innovation”, “entrepreneurship”, and “LEADER”) in the European Network of Rural Development database. According to the typology of promoters, we considered Transnational Cooperation Projects promoted by various Local Action Groups (LAGs), by public sector initiative and by private promoters. In-depth interviews were also conducted. The main findings include: the crucial role played by local leaders, social enterprises and LAGs in overcoming resistance and reluctance amongst the local community to participate in and support rural development projects; the importance of creating collective learning processes; the complexity of the network affects the number of contributions; the need for long-term continuity of processes and projects, and the importance of combining exogenous and endogenous development and knowledge.

The Role of Erasmus+ Project Leaders' Digital Competences in Sustaining European Transnational Cooperation During COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of the article is to answer the question whether digital competences can support Erasmus+ project leaders in sustaining their transnational cooperation, and if yes: to what extent? The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great threat to the implementation and sustainability of transnational cooperation projects, especially the ones based on international mobility of its participants. This is especially the case of Erasmus+ which is the flagship European program enhancing cooperation between leaders of educational, academic, vocational, industrial and business sectors. Consequently, there is an urgent need to determine what factors can contribute to sustaining this type of cooperation. For this purpose, this research concentrates on Erasmus+ project leaders from Poland who implement their transnational cooperation projects, and investigates how their digital competences and other contextual factors connected with these competences may influence their performance in the realization of projects during COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion on digital competences as remedial tools for international cooperation during COVID-19 pandemic is placed here in the broader context of competences 4.0, industry 4.0, and relational and network approach to management of modern organizations.

Cisterscapes – Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe

Abstract The LEADER Transnational Cooperation Project „Cisterscapes – Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe“ takes places from 2019–2022. The article gives an overview of the project, the project partners, aims and results and where to follow them.

Relational and Networking Character: Threat or Savior for the Sustainability of European Erasmus+ Projects in the Times of COVID-19 Pandemic?

Turbulent and unstable times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic constitute specific training grounds as well as a stress test to verify in practice the validity of assumptions underlying the modern paradigms in management on the one hand, and to assess which factors contribute, or pose challenges and threats, to the resilience and sustainability of modern organizations on the other hand. Research was conducted among 990 Erasmus+ project leaders to assess to what extent the factors connected with the relational and networking characteristics of Erasmus+ projects, functioning as temporary organizations, facilitate the sustainability of European transnational cooperation projects in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion concentrates on the digital and social dimensions of transnational cooperation and places these dimensions in the broader context of relational view and network paradigm in the modern science of management as well as in the context of strategic management. Bibliometric analysis shows that no such research has been conducted so far. Researchers tend to analyze the impact of Erasmus+ projects on regional, national, and European communities but do not touch upon the aspects connected with the management of the projects themselves, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this research fills a research gap in this respect.

Transnational Inter-Territorial Cooperation in the LEADER Approach. The Cases of Finland and Spain

This research focuses on the LEADER approach, the practice of neo-endogenous rural development inside the European Union (EU), and inside of this, one of its basic specificities, transnational cooperation projects (TNCP), specifically for Finland and Spain, and for the 2007-2013 programming period, what implementation problems have these projects faced? What effects have been derived from their application? To obtain quantitative information, the reports from the European Rural Development Network have been analyzed; and to extract detailed information, the reports of the National Rural Network of Spain, of Nordic-Baltic LEADER Cooperation Award, have been consulted, in addition to for some projects, the reports of these TNCPs of each Local Action Group; and in the cases that those responsible for these TNCPs have been found, the data extracted from a questionnaire, answered by 19 of them. The data show that PCTNs have not obtained the needed expectations, mainly due to bureaucratic, economic problems, and even, due to the lack of willingness of the initial and last stakeholders and managers in charge to implement them. Therefore, the potential for transnational cooperation remains underutilized in terms of knowledge sharing and skills development, to provide new ideas and inspiration that strengthen rural development strategies, and even to foster solidarity between different rural areas.

El debate actual sobre la(s) frontera(s) aplicado al caso ibérico: elementos de des-fronterización y re-fronterización entre España y Portugal en el siglo XXI = The current debate on border(s) applied to the Iberian case: elements of de-bordering and re-bordering between Spain and Portugal in the 21st Century

Resumen: En las últimas décadas del siglo XX, los discursos sobre un mundo sin fronteras, donde las relaciones territoriales ya no son determinadas por los Estados, ganaron fuerza entre académicos y decisores políticos. Los proyectos de cooperación transnacional, como los que están en la base de la Unión Europea, parecían demostrar que las fronteras dejaban de significar discontinuidades económicas, políticas y sociales. Estos nuevos escenarios permitieron abrir una nueva fase en las relaciones entre territorios de España y Portugal y superar su separación histórica. Este acercamiento se refleja en la creación de estructuras de cooperación transfronteriza y décadas de constante crecimiento de las relaciones económicas entre ambos países. Este proceso conoció un decaimiento durante la crisis económica iniciada en 2008. En este artículo, se analiza la evolución de estas relaciones y se estudia la efectividad de esta cooperación como marco adecuado para la superación de los efectos de la crisis. Entre los territorios portugueses y españoles, una vez superada la recesión, las relaciones transfronterizas retomaron su vigor, especialmente a nivel local y regional. Así, avanzando en las complementariedades culturales, sociales y económicas, la cooperación puede ir más allá de los límites de los Estados y puede concebirse como un instrumento efectivo de desarrollo territorial.Palabras clave: Península Ibérica, cooperación regional, frontera, des-fronterización, re-fronterización.Abstract: Abstract: Since the last decades of the 20th century, the narrative of a world without borders, where territorial relations are no longer determined by States, has been gaining strength among academics and decision-makers. Transnational cooperation projects such as the European Union (EU) seem to demonstrate that borders no longer represent economic, political and social discontinuities. These new scenarios have opened a new phase in the relations between the territories of Spain and Portugal and overcome the historical separation. This is a rapprochement reflected in the creation of cross-border cooperation structures and in the decades of constantly growing economic relations between both countries, although the process was slowed by the economic crisis beginning in 2008. In this paper, the focus is the evolution of these relationships and also an analysis of the effectiveness of cooperation as an adequate means for overcoming the effects of the crisis. Since the crisis ended, cross-border relations between Portugal and Spain have regained their vigour, especially at the local and regional levels. Thus, thanks to cultural, social and economic complementarities, cooperation can overcome the limits of States and be conceived as an effective instrument for territorial development.Key words: Iberian Peninsula, regional cooperation, border, des-bordering, re-bordering.

Improving the conservation effectiveness of wetlands – WetMainAreas: purpose and contribution of project funded under Transnational Cooperation Programme Balkan – Mediterranean 2014-2020.

This paper aims to announce the purpose and contribution of the transnational cooperation project Improving the conservation effectiveness of wetlands – WetMainAreas. The project with a duration of two years (01.09.2017-31.08.2019) is funded under TNCP Balkan-Mediteranean 2014-2020 in accordance with Subsidy Contract BMP1/2.1/2342/2017. The WetMainAreas brings together research partners, users and observer partners from Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Republic of North Macedonia. The main purpose of the project is protection, conservation and development of the wetlands as a shared asset of the Balkan-Mediterranean territory, ensuring expansion of ecological connectivity and transnational ecosystems integration of designated areas with a target value of 3 568 225 ha. The project methodology is highly innovative – based on remote Earth observation techniques and testing of a novel method for proving the wetlands role as connecting units within the frame of ecosystem services. The main focus is on the „small wetlands“ and their maintaining role for improving the conservation effectiveness. The project contribution is: 1) Update of the picture of wetlands through mapping and field studies; 2) Mapping and assessment of wetland ecosystems connectivity and analysis of their integration in the designated areas and networks (Natura 2000); 3) Demonstration of joined wetlands conservation techniques at 4 pilot sites; 4) Development of good practices for promotion of environmental and cultural heritage; 5) Improvement of wetlands conservation policies.

The conformance and performance principles in territorial cooperation: a critical reflection on the evaluation of INTERREG projects

ABSTRACTThe conformance and performance principles in territorial cooperation: a critical reflection on the evaluation of INTERREG projects. Regional Studies. In view of the influence that the diverse national and regional contexts of project partners has on the success of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) projects, this article argues that a realistic evaluation of projects should consider not only the achievement of stated objectives (conformance) but also the range of dissemination activities and learning effects realized during the project (performance). Here a specific evaluation method is introduced that takes account both the conformance and the performance principles. Using the example of impact analysis of a transnational cooperation project and a cross-border cooperation project, it is shown that this evaluation method can contribute to a more suitable assessment of ETC projects.

Social learning in transnational projects – lessons from European territorial cooperation projects

Old industrial regions in Europe have undergone radical changes in the last decades. After downsizing or closure of predominant industries such regions usually face big challenges concerning their economic, social and ecological futures. One chance to master this transformation process is the identification and sustainable utilisation of potentials left by industrial production. Utilisation of regional potentials, commonly categorized as natural and cultural potentials, was the aim of two transnational cooperation projects ReSource and SHIFT-X, which were both funded by European Union’s Development Fund (ERDF, INTERREG IVB).The paper shows how the involvement of research partners in the projects supported and facilitated joint learning effects and knowledge transfer between all project partners. It is argued that on the one hand such an approach offers important mutual benefits for partners, while on the other hand the realisation of such benefits remains a challenging task in a transnational collaboration. In declining industrial regions, especially when characterised by small- and medium-sized towns, the capacities to act are scarce and any outside intervention is often seen more as an unwanted factor that additionally stretches resources and provides little advantages for such regions. Therefore one of the main aims in transnational collaboration has to be the establishment of a trustful and committed working relation between all partners. The engagement in the projects has shown that the joint work between regional actors and the external academic partners can create important transnational learning effects for all involved; nevertheless it has to overcome certain reservations on all sides before innovative ways can be pursued successfully.

Developing a Comparative Marine Socio-Economic Framework for the European Atlantic Area

Availability and easy access to a wide range of natural and human-activity data on the oceans and coastal regions of Europe is the basis for strategic decision-making on coastal and marine policy. Strategies within Europe’s Integrated Maritime Policy, including the Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Area, Blue Growth, Maritime Spatial Planning and Marine Data and Knowledge, require coherent and comparable socio-economic data across European countries. Similarly, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires member states to carry out economic and social analysis of their waters and the reformed Common Fisheries Policy includes a social dimension requiring socio-economic data. However, the availability of consistent, accessible marine socio-economic data for the European Atlantic Arc regions is limited. Ocean economy studies have been undertaken in some countries (for example, Ireland, France, and UK) but timescales and methodologies are not necessarily comparable. Marnet is an EU transnational co-operation project involving eight partners from five member states of the Atlantic Area (Ireland, Spain, UK, France and Portugal). Marnet has developed a methodology to collate comparable marine socio-economic data across the Atlantic regions. The comparative marine socio-economic information system developed by Marnet could provide a template for other European States to follow that could potentially facilitate the construction of a Europe-wide marine economic information system as envisaged under the EU Integrated Maritime Policy.

Cognitive Processing of Information with Visitor Value in Cultural Heritage Environments. The Case of the SEE TCP SAGITTARIUS 2011–2014

The South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Project SAGITTARIUS is a research and developmental project aiming to effectively communicate values of cultural heritage to non-captives audiences in an entertaining and participatory way. A significance assessment facilitates the selection of assets with interpretive potential. Information architecture presupposes a limited working memory capacity to deal with visual and auditory material and a long-term memory able to hold mental representations that vary in their degree of automation. A communication pattern has been developed and adapted to the conditions regulating the recreational learning environment. It facilitates attention and information retention, reinforces the association chain enabling new cognitive content to relate to prior knowledge. A Roving Museum offers a scarce time-budget audience access to interpretive narratives via a portable infrastructure, a mobile telephony application and a social media driven platform.

Sketching Geology: Primary and Secondary School Pupils’ Perceptions

AbstractThis study focuses on primary and secondary school pupils’ perceptions of geology in the context of the NEED (The Northern Environmental Education Development) logo competition. The NEED project is a transnational cooperation project within four countries: Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and Norway which focuses on environmental education. The logo competition was directed towards 11-15 years old pupils who were asked to draw a logo they thought suitable for the project. They were told about the NEED project and were instructed to propose a logo which described geology. We analyzed the drawings sent by the Finnish teachers as well as those sent to the competition by coordinators from other countries. There were 105 participants in the study; Finland (N=25), Iceland (N=40), Ireland (N=31) and Norway (N=9). The Finnish pupils also wrote about their drawings. Results indicate that pupils’ perceptions of geology are quite extensive. Endogen processes in lithosphere were highlighted and processes and issues from the biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere were present in their drawings. Only a few pupils, however, described interaction between humans and nature, the majority of drawings portraying natural environments instead social or cultural environments. The pupils’ own national geology and its features were not emphasized in their drawings.

Culture(s) in conflict. Youth participation in the European cooperation project "4Cs: from Conflict to Conviviality through Creativity and Culture"

From Conflict to Conviviality through Creativity and Culture is a transnational cooperation project, in Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Lithuania, France, England and Germany, that responds to a need amongst European cultural institutions that share a common challenge: to explore how training and education in art and culture can constitute powerful resources to reflect on emerging forms of conflict, as well as to envision creative ways to deal with conflictual phenomena, while contributing to audience development. As the title of the project suggests, it aims to look into the passage of conflictual situations into conviviality through the use of creativity and culture. In other words, it demands for the action of creativity and culture in a world characterised by conflict. In this article, the aim is to reflect on the project’s wishes to advance the conceptual framework of intercultural dialogue and enhance the role of public arts and cultural institutions in the promotion of togetherness through cultural diversity and intercultural encounters particularly focus on active participation and co-production with youngsters.