engleski

Cross-border Cooperation in Central and South-East Europe: A Croatian perspective

Cross-border cooperation (CBC), as a part of European Union (EU) regional development policy aiming at territorial cohesion, is implemented based on operational programmes and projects prepared jointly in a participatory and strategic manner. This represents an opportunity for enabling development in border areas that usually lag behind and are often marked by past conflicts. In this paper a critical review of developmental and institutional effects of CBC in Croatia is presented with emphasis on the intention of re/building territorial cohesion in the countries of the Western Balkan region or Central and South-East Europe. This process is enabled through cooperation based on strict rules set by the European Commission, responsible authorities in member states, candidates and potential candidate countries for EU accession. Important are transparent procedures based on which better governance practices can evolve through cooperation in new institutional settings and territories. Implementing joint projects can also be seen as an opportunity to re-establish social and economic links between inhabitants of border regions that were severely affected by the war in former Yugoslavia during the 1990s. Also, environmental issues can be tackled easier than before. A number of questions are addressed in this paper based on research and practical experience in local and regional development, participatory approaches and sustainable development. These are: To what extent can CBC be seen as a good opportunity for capacity building in countries aiming at joining the EU? What theories regarding CBC can provide further insights? What impact has EU cross-border cooperation policy on the regional and local level?

Cross-border cooperation; regional development; sustainability; governance; Europe

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