scholarly journals The role of Euroregions as a factor of spatial integration and regional development-the focus on the selected border area

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-310
Author(s):  
Slobodanka Stankov ◽  
Marija Peric ◽  
Dejan Doljak ◽  
Natalia Vukovic
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Spatial Integration ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Border Area ◽  
Tourist Destinations

The political changes that affected the European area in the second half of the 20th century conditioned the development of European countries on the principle of Euroregions, as interesting creations of neighboring countries. Formed along the political borders of neighboring countries, Euroregions today play a significant role in the enlargement process of the European Union. At the end of the 20th century, the formation of Euroregions covered the area of the Western Balkans as well. In Podrinje, the border area of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the formed Euroregions have the goal of reviving and revitalizing rural areas. Tourism, as the most important economic activity, is integrated into the basis of the rural development of these areas. The subject of the research is related to the analysis of the development degree of border rural areas, under the influence of tourism. The research problem is focused on the rural areas of ?Serbian? Podrinje. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to determine the change and burden of rural border area due to the development of tourism, using the indicator of tourist operation (I.T.O.) and the tourist function indices to measure the degree of the development of a destination. The results of the research indicate that three types of tourist destinations have been developed in the studied area: destinations with almost non-existent tourist activity (< 4), with small-scale tourist activity (4- 10), and developed and eminently tourist destinations (40-100). The obtained results indicate that 83.3% of the destinations in "Serbian" Podrinje are destinations with almost non-existent tourist activity. These are the destinations where the development of tourism does not affect the transformation of space, but the original and preserved environment is promoted as a tourist attraction.

The Berlin Process. Bringing the Western Balkan Region Closer to the European Union

Südosteuropa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Christina Griessler
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Eu Enlargement ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Political Activities ◽  
New Energy ◽  
Western Balkan Region ◽  
Slow Progress ◽  
Proactive Measures

AbstractFor the countries of the Western Balkans, the path to membership in the European Union (EU) has been particularly tortuous. Its slow progress has created frustration among applicant countries. In 2014 Germany, stepping into the political void that had formed, inaugurated what has come to be known as the Berlin Process, an initiative aimed at injecting new energy into the dormant EU enlargement process. The author examines the political activities initiated between 2014 and 2019, analysing the official documentation of the Berlin Process along with publications such as policy papers and media commentaries. She concludes that although meaningful and proactive measures have been taken, such efforts have not been successful in persuading or enabling the Western Balkan states to implement the political and economic reforms required for EU accession.

scholarly journals Specific features of development of selected agricultural problematic areas in the land consolidation process

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Wójcik-Leń ◽  
Katarzyna Sobolewska-Mikulska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Spatial Structure ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Land Consolidation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Consolidation Process ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Agricultural Areas

AbstractDevelopment of the Polish agriculture and its production abilities are spatially diversified. At present, in Poland agricultural areas may be distinguished which may successfully compete with the agriculture in the European Union countries. However, areas where private farms run their businesses on the verge of profitability or below also exist in Poland. Those areas are called agricultural problematic areas (OPR), depression areas, areas not useful for agricultural purposes, marginal lands etc. It is estimated that OPR covers over 60-70% of our country. Land consolidation is the process which improves the spatial structure of rural areas, including problematic areas. When this geodetic process is performed it is possible to interpret specific features of selected agricultural problematic areas and to propose alternative and the most effective ways of development of the discussed areas. As a result of those agricultural-and-development operations rural areas are becoming competitive and improve the living conditions. However, they are performed on a very small scale, in recent years this area is about 5900 hectares per year.

scholarly journals Economic factors of rural area development of the region, financial sources and human resources

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1125-1139
Author(s):  
Sanela Ravlić ◽  
Jerko Glavaš ◽  
Željko Vojinović
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Border Area ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
The Impact

The complexity of borders and border area in terms of European Union, cohesion policy, implementation of cross-border program 2007-2013 in urban and rural areas of Hungary and Croatia, monitoring the impact of invested funds and their comprehensiveness, the attitude of beneficiaries of infrastructural and human resources development projects are discussed in this paper. All in the light of given possibilities and untapped opportunities that can bring significant benefits to this area. The primary survey is conducted in the observed area after the implementation of all approved cross-border projects. Besides, available data sources and implemented research in the cross-border area of Hungary and Croatia are also discussed. The paper seeks to contribute to the discourse on the subject of monitoring the overall impact of the implemented activities in the cross-border area because there are no similar studies that comprehensively approach this complex problem for areas of cross-border cooperation in the European Union.

scholarly journals The Role of Political Leadership in Macedonia in Function of EU Integration

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Mirvan Xhemaili
Keyword(s):  
Transition Period ◽  
Political Leadership ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
The Road ◽  
Eu Integration ◽  
On The Road ◽  
The Eu

The dissolution of the former Yugoslavia was associated by destructive interethnic conflicts, by local and regional wars. Macedonia is also closely related to Europe politically and economically. The paper analyzes the role of political leadership on the road to EU integration. The research is one of many efforts that have been undertaken lately on the European Union development, its enlargement policy and the integration of Macedonia in EU. Specifically, this type of research is very important for the Macedonia, having in mind that the country has experienced the worst and the longest transition after the Cold War. The aim of the paper is to identify the main difficulties and challenges that make this process less successful. Macedonia started this journey in 2001 by signing the PSA/MSA. Right after its independence the country has faced many internal and external challenges. The country id undergoing a 25 years’ transition period of democratization and consolidation. The road to EU Integration has made the country undergo many reforms in many fields. The country views the process of integration as a strategic objective. The EU union has shown its interest to include the aspiring countries from the Western Balkans in its family. There is a high percentage of citizens for this process. The political leadership has not been responsible for the reforms in the country that have been addressed by EU. The political leadership uses the EU membership as a rhetoric in political campaign rather than doing more for the process, the paper analyzes the rhetoric and the reality by different methodologies. Political leaders should do more for the EU Integration and consider themselves as the only responsible party.

Expanding European Integration towards the Western Balkans in Times of Crises: A Neo-Functionalist Examination

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 75-98
Author(s):  
Özer Binici
Keyword(s):  
Eu Enlargement ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Eu Foreign Policy ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
The Eu

This article examines the political practices of the European Union (EU) in the Western Balkans and, in particular, the EU-Kosovo relations by adopting the revisited neo-functionalism approach to the study of EU enlargement. This research draws on the descriptive and explanatory assumptions of the approach; it not only explains the development of the EU enlargement perspective towards the region but also explores the main dynamics behind the EU’s strategy towards the region, beginning from the outbreak of the Yugoslavia War and the reflections associated with the development of the EU foreign policy realm. More specifically, the research focuses on the dynamics underlying the process of the development of Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo. In the conclusion, future research directions and limitations of the revisited neo-functionalism are discussed.

scholarly journals The European Union and State Building in the Western Balkans

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-195
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
State Building ◽  
Network Governance ◽  
The Political ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Political Reality ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Eu

This paper examines the feasibility of network governance in the context of the EU's expansion in the Western Balkans. The EU is formally committed to promoting network governance but the realities of enlargement require the creation of effective states, in other words of the primacy of hierarchy over network. Networks are created in enlargement and reflect the complexities of public policy but these networks do not represent, as yet, a significant shift of power away from the state. Despite a normative preference for network governance, the political reality of enlargement is that the EU seeks the creation of effective hierarchy.

scholarly journals Mapping the potential for decentralized energy generation based on RES in Western Balkans

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Schneider ◽  
Neven Duic ◽  
Igor Raguzin ◽  
Zeljko Bogdan ◽  
Marko Ban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Generation ◽  
Network Capacity ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Decentralized Energy

Although the countries of the Western Balkans are mostly electrified, there are still regions which do not have access to the electricity network or where the network capacity is insufficient. For the most part such areas are under special care of the state (i. e. underdeveloped, devastated by war, depopulated), on islands or in mountainous regions. Since the decentralized energy generation covers a broad range of technologies, including many renewable energy technologies that provide small-scale power at sites close to the users, such concept could be of interest for these locations. This paper identifies the areas in Western Balkans where such systems could be applied. Consideration is given to geographical locations as well as possible applications. Wind, hydro, solar photovoltaic, and biomass conversion systems were taken into consideration. Since the renewable energy sources data for Western Balkans region are rather scarce, the intention was to give a survey of the present situation and an estimate of future potential for decentralized energy generation based on renewable energy sources. The decentralized energy generation based on renewable energy sources in Western Balkans will find its niche easier for the users that will produce electricity for their own needs and for the users located in remote rural areas (off-grid applications).

scholarly journals Problems of the European union and its candidate countries’ mutual relations and flexible accession as a possible way of reviving the enlargement policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-25
Author(s):  
Ivana Radic-Milosavljevic
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
Democratic Tradition ◽  
Accession Process ◽  
Mutual Relations ◽  
The Eu

The article deals with the problem of the Western Balkans countries? accession and association process impasse. The author finds the key causes of this problem in the very nature of an asymmetric relationship between the EU and these countries with the Stabilization and Association Process laying in its core. Both sides have contributed to this problem: the EU with its overambitious approach to the region, vaguely defined and ever-changing criteria, but also the countries participating in the Process with their uncritical approach to the possible membership, unclearly defined interests and aims, slow reforms, and weak democratic tradition. For the process to be successfully continued, the author discusses the idea of its substantial remodeling towards a flexible process. In light of the frequent discussions about the possible moving of the European integration towards more differentiation, the process of flexible association or accession would enable EU membership only in selected policy areas. The policy areas would be chosen in accordance with the previously clearly defined and thoroughly analyzed interests and capabilities of the candidate and potential candidate countries. The author argues that the association/accession process should be separated as much as possible from the political conditioning in order to decrease the possibility of taking arbitrary decisions on whether the countries have advanced in the process or not. For the Western Balkan countries, this kind of less demanding process would be easier to accomplish and would allow more autonomy in choosing areas of integration and pace of accommodation. For the EU member states, it would provide a way to regain the credibility of its once most successful foreign policy activity.

Funding of Transport Infrastructure in Serbia: China in Focus

China Report ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-228
Author(s):  
Dániel Gábor Csapó
Keyword(s):  
Financial Institutions ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
European Institutions ◽  
Chinese Banks ◽  
The Relationship

In the Western Balkans, Serbia is considered one of China’s key partners, represented both in the political sphere and financially in the number of investments from Chinese corporations and banks. This paper examines the rate of Chinese expansion in Serbia by examining the investments in Serbian transportation infrastructure. It also analyses the relationship between the two countries and examines the response of other powers towards the Chinese expansion in Serbia. The annual report of the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure (MGSI), Serbia summarises the recently implemented, ongoing and planned investments. According to this document, from 2004 to 2020 Serbia has and is planning to invest nearly EUR 6 billion into development projects with a 3:1 ratio in favour of investments to railway projects (MGSI 2018, ‘Overview of Finalised, Ongoing and Planned Transportation and Construction Infrastructural Projects,. 3). Although European institutions play a crucial role in financing the projects, Chinese financial institutions are becoming increasingly influential. Based on the assessment of the data in the Ministry report and considering the projects with an identified financing provider, one-fifth of the total value is provided by the Chinese banks. While the Chinese side argues that they strive to ensure a ‘win-win’ position for all stakeholders, the European Union (notably, the Western Member States) and the United States have reservations about Chinese expansion in the region.

Las funciones del interregionalismo en la relación UE-CAN

Oikos ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (29) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Olga María Cerqueira Torres
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Present Article ◽  
The Political ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Association Agreement ◽  
Political Rationality ◽  
Article Analysis ◽  
Andean Community ◽  
The Eu

RESUMENEn el presente artículo el análisis se ha centrado en determinar cuáles de las funciones del interregionalismo, sistematizadas en los trabajos de Jürgen Rüland, han sido desarrolladas en la relación Unión Europea-Comunidad Andina de Naciones, ya que ello ha permitido evidenciar si el estado del proceso de integración de la CAN ha condicionado la racionalidad política del comportamiento de la Unión Europea hacia la región andina (civil power o soft imperialism); esto posibilitará establecer la viabilidad de la firma del Acuerdo de Asociación Unión Europea-Comunidad Andina de Naciones.Palabras clave: Unión Europea, Comunidad Andina, interregionalismo, funciones, acuerdo de asociación. Interregionalism functions in the EU-ANDEAN community relationsABSTRACTIn the present article analysis has focused on which functions of interregionalism, systematized by Jürgen Rüland, have been developed in the European Union-Andean Community birregional relation, that allowed demonstrate if the state of the integration process in the Andean Community has conditioned the political rationality of the European Union towards the Andean region (civil power or soft imperialism); with all these elements will be possible to establish the viability of the Association Agreement signature between the European Union and the Andean Community.Keywords: European Union, Andean Community, interregionalism, functions, association agreement.

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