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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents two strategies for the development of cross-border cooperation in the Euroregion "Beskidy", in particular it shows what the Euroregion is in general, then briefly refers to other forms of cooperation, and then characterizes both documents in more detail. Initially, it was defined what the strategy is, what role it plays in the case of cross-border cooperation structures, and the mission of cooperation within the Euroregion "Beskidy", as well as key projects aimed at the development of tourism, culture, sports and education.

The purpose of this work is to determine, by means of structural modelling, the impact (direction and strength) of the imposed restrictions (in the period of Covid-19 pandemic), related to crossing the border between Poland and the Czech Republic in the area of the Euroregion Śląsk Cieszyoski - Těšínské Slezsko (EŚC-TS) on the operation of the cross-border market of cultural services, and subsequently, on the quality of life of the residents of EŚC-TS. For the needs of this work, quantitative research was conducted with the use of a standardized questionnaire on a sample of 2109 residents of EŚC-TS (1109 participants on the Polish side and 1000 on the Czech side). The obtained data were subjected to factor analysis and to Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results of SEM analysis confirmed that the imposed restrictions (in the period of Covid-19 pandemic), related to crossing the border between Poland and the Czech Republic in the EŚC-TS area exerted a negative (destimulating) impact on the functioning of the cross-border market of cultural services, which, as a consequence, led to the worsening of the quality of life of the residents of both the Polish and Czech side of EŚC-TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galicia is an old European cultural nation. It is also a Spanish Autonomous Community, endowed with self-government since 1981, which joined the European Communities in 1986, becoming a NUTS II. It has been an important beneficiary of European structural funds that have helped it to converge in GDP with the Spanish and European Union averages. At the same time, it has developed an outstanding foreign action with the North of Portugal that has been taking shape in the configuration of an Euroregion.

Ukraine, its civil and business community found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances and challenges due to the military actions launched in February 2022. And those processes, transformations that took place before these sad events in the economic situation in Ukraine related to the rapprochement, integration of Ukrainian business into the European economic space have received a new development. The article considers the concept and essence of such categories as business and entrepreneurship, describes practical plane of business in Ukraine in the historical aspect of business development and geographically. Initially, business and entrepreneurship in Ukraine went autonomously from those economic processes that took place in Europe. Business itself in Ukraine also developed differently in different regions.

The Euroregions are a mechanism for external collaboration of local collectivities – territorial structures created to achieve a coherent space for economic, scientific, social and cultural development. The collaboration within the Euroregions consists in creating direct links between the regions and collectivities located on one side and the other of the state borders, by virtue of the competences of the local authorities, as defined in the national legislation. The collaboration model within the Euroregions is supported by the European Union as a preparatory exercise for the accession of the participating countries and as a mechanism for the implementation of community relations between the regions of the candidate states. After the proclamation of independence, the Republic of Moldova made considerable efforts to establish international relations, by joining the most important international political and economic bodies and organizations, as well as by signing bilateral agreements with different countries. Efforts to integrate into the international community were promoted both at the central and local levels by intensifying the cooperation of local collectivities with similar entities from neighbouring countries, Romania and Ukraine. Due to the economic advantages offered by cross-border cooperation, the participation of the Republic of Moldova within the Euroregions should be of interest. The local collectivities from Romania and Ukraine have much greater economic potential compared to the districts of the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, the interest in deepening the cross-border cooperation relations was permanently overshadowed by pronounced passivity both at the central and local levels.

Abstract The article dwells upon the history of the Carpathian Euroregion as the form of a cross-border cooperation. The peculiarities of the economic development of the Carpathian Euroregion before the COVID-19 pandemic were considered. The main ways of obtaining financial resources for the development of the Euroregion economy were identified. The structure of the Carpathian Euroregion and the system of normative legal acts regulating the activity of this association were analyzed. The main consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic development of the Carpathian Euroregion were identified. Priority measures and activities for tourism development in the Carpathian Euroregion were discussed. The expediency of creating a tourist brand of the Euroregion and the need to promote tourism in the Euroregion at the international level were argued. The main international projects and programs of the Carpathian Euroregion regarding the cooperation between the states of the EU were studied. Proposals were made to improve the investment attractiveness of the Carpathian Euroregion and to overcome the consequences of the pandemic. The need to create a separate authority that will operate independently and ensure active communication in the Euroregion was established. It will also help find new sources of financial resources, develop a set of measures to support small and medium businesses, connections between the territories of the Euroregion and ensure an effective border and customs regime in the Carpathian Euroregion.

The paper presents the 35-year evolution of the cooperation tool-box of the Cohesion Policy. The authors give an overview on the history of the financial (Interreg) and the governance (Euroregions and EGTCs) tools, and introduce the debate on a mechanism designed to facilitate the elimination of legal and administrative obstacles. The last debate indicates the climate change within European Territorial Cooperation policy generated by the series of crises since 2015. The paper uses sources of information based on desk research (studies, evaluations, official documents and adopted regulations) and experiences gained from the management, implementation and evaluation of cross-border programmes and projects and adapts this knowledge in an interdisciplinary way, with a special focus on legal and political scientific aspects. As a conclusion, the paper raises concerns about the future of European Territorial Cooperation objective of the Cohesion Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article dwells upon the history of the Carpathian Euroregion as the form of a cross-border cooperation. The peculiarities of the economic development of the Carpathian Euroregion before the COVID-19 pandemic were considered. The main ways of obtaining financial resources for the development of the Euroregion economy were identified. The structure of the Carpathian Euroregion and the system of normative legal acts regulating the activity of this association were analyzed. The main consequences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic development of the Carpathian Euroregion were identified. Priority measures and activities for tourism development in the Carpathian Euroregion were discussed. The expediency of creating a tourist brand of the Euroregion and the need to promote tourism in the Euroregion at the international level were argued. The main international projects and programs of the Carpathian Euroregion regarding the cooperation between the states of the EU were studied. Proposals were made to improve the investment attractiveness of the Carpathian Euroregion and to overcome the consequences of the pandemic. The need to create a separate authority that will operate independently and ensure active communication in the Euroregion was established. It will also help find new sources of financial resources, develop a set of measures to support small and medium businesses, connections between the territories of the Euroregion and ensure an effective border and customs regime in the Carpathian Euroregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the study is the Odesa region and its activities in the field of cross-border cooperation with the neighboring territories of Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The paper examines the theoretical foundations of cross-border cooperation. The concept of cross-border cooperation is defined, its main forms are defined, the foreign experience in this field is summarized and a method for determining the effectiveness of the Euroregion's activities is proposed. Cross-border activity in the Odesa region was analyzed. Factors affecting the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation are identified. A SWOT analysis of the main economic indicators affecting the functioning of the Euroregion was developed. The effectiveness of such activities is analyzed. The main directions for improving cooperation in the economic sphere are proposed, namely the creation of a tripartite joint body for attracting foreign direct investment, the creation of cross-border clusters, in particular, the creation of a joint strategic plan for the development of areas such as the agro-industrial complex, tourism and transport are proposed.

Much attention is currently being paid to the process of delegation of authority. The purpose of the article is to study theoretical and practical issues of delegation of authority in modern European society. Delegation means the transfer of tasks and powers to a person who assumes responsibility for their implementation. The growth and development of companies currently leads to a significant increase in the amount of work performed by the head. The manager is physically unable to perform such a volume of work, there is a need to transfer part of the work and functions to subordinates, at the same time, additional powers are transferred to them. The manager is relieved of performing a significant part of the work and he has time to solve the main problems of the organization, which is the most important positive side of delegation of authority.

Purpose. The aim of the study is to improve the organizational structure of institutional support of sustainable environmental management in the Carpathian region and the Euroregion “Bug”. Methodology / approach. The general theoretical scientific methods, fundamental principles of environmental economics, cross-border cooperation, which are highlighted in the works of both Ukrainian and foreign scientists on economic problems of ensuring sustainable environmental management, were used as the methodological basis of the study. To perform the tasks, the following research methods were used: monographic (to study the principles of environmental management); system-structural (to study the essence and content of institutional support of sustainable environmental management); institutional (to assess the relationship and research the cross-effect between regional and local authorities); abstract-logical (theoretical and methodical generalizations and formulation of conclusions). Results. The developed theoretical-and-methodological, and applied provisions for improving the system of institutional support of sustainable environmental management were logically brought to the level of specific proposals suitable for implementation into the practice of public administration and local government in the context of cross-border cooperation. It was proposed to develop the Concept of balanced development of cross-border and border regions for 2022–2026, highlighting the state of implementation of current tasks, prospects for projects, cross-border cooperation agreements, integration of border regions to the European information and intellectual domain as well as monitoring the state of their implementation in the future. All of that will provide an opportunity to get sustainable development and improvement of the reputation of the border areas of Ukraine from the ecological, economic, and social points of view. Originality / scientific novelty. It was formed and scientifically substantiated from the standpoint of an integrated approach and synergistic effect, necessary strategic imperatives and preconditions for developing a strategy of cross-border cooperation between Ukraine and neighbouring countries on the terms of joint implementation of Strategies, programs, and agreements that correspond to the strategic directions of ecological, economic, and social development of each country and region, outline the needs and future goals of cross-border cooperation to avoid isolated development of only one of the parties in the context of cross-border and Euroregional cooperation. Practical value / implications. A system model of institutional support for cross-border cooperation is developed, which interacts with elements of the internal and external environment in particular based on a single regulatory framework, which will serve as a doctrine of environmentally balanced development and will allow implementation in practice a comprehensive approach of solving environmental, economic and social transboundary problems and ensure environmental protection based on complementary requirements established in border and cross-border regions.

The paper focuses on a comparative analysis of the approaches to interregional cooperation used by two Spanish regions: the Basque Country and Catalonia. The main strategic documents which set the goals, tasks and directions of the autonomous regions in interregional cooperation are considered. Factors that shape the principles of the regions in developing interregional links are described. Spanish legislation which lays foundation for interregional action of the Basque Country and Catalonia is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the key vectors of partnership between the Spanish and French territories in the framework of two Euroregions: New Aquitaine-Basque Country-Navarre and Pyrenees-Mediterranean. In addition, the main tasks stipulated in the Programme of the Catalan Presidency in the interregional association the Four Motors for Europe are examined. Furthermore, the paper identifies the role of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals in the hierarchy of priorities for interregional action in both regions. As a result of the research, similarities and differences in the approaches to interregional cooperation used by the Basque Country and Catalonia are underscored.

The main aim of this article is to present the concept of the Euroregion as a platform for cooperation in the area of social security. The issue itself needs to be constantly updated not only because of the constant challenges facing the European Union and other countries. The outlook character of the article presents a view on the importance of cooperation between self-government administration bodies and other subjects of economic life for the development of cooperation within the Euroregions. The article mainly focuses on the fight against often negative stereotypes and undertakings whose task is to increase the standard of economic life by increasing activities aimed at improving the quality of Euroregional cooperation. The Euroregion "Beskidy" was selected for the study, which is diverse in ethnic, sociological, historical, but also economic and social terms. Its unique features have allowed the authors to more clearly emphasize the message of the article. Tourism and its international, Euro-regional character is also an important element of cooperation. In order to carry out the research that resulted in this article, the methods of researching the sources sucked in in terms of critical analysis of literature were used, as well as juxtaposing them with the previously conducted research on Euroregions and safety by the authors. On the basis of the analysis, the article presents a significant contribution of social integration and cross-border cooperation to the development of the Euroregion as well as to the development of social security as a non-military part of the research topic. The creation of new types of innovative pro-social undertakings opens up the Euroregions, and thus the Member States to further internal integration and intensification of activities to strengthen socio-economic cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The article is devoted to smart integration taking place on the Polish–German borderland and, more precisely, the border between the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and the Saxony Länder, which, according to the author, is the result of an evolution of forms of transfrontier cooperation of territorial self-government units. It will analyse the conditions for the emergence of forms of cooperation in the transfrontier area and their evolution in European experiences to date and, after 1990, also with the involvement of Polish territorial self-governments.

The article presents the role of the Italian minority in Slovenia and the Slovenian minority in Italy in cross-border cooperation between the two countries. The main theoretical approaches to the definition of such concepts as cross-border cooperation, boundary regions, Euroregions are set out. Empirical research is based on the analysis of the implementation of cross-border cooperation Interreg and appeals to three of its main factors affecting national minorities: the organization of functional and intensive cross-border mobility; stimulation cultural / ethnic affinity between populations on both sides of the border; supporting by institutional cooperation.

The Cahul district is part of two Euroregions: ”Lower Danube” and ”Siret-Prut-Nistru”. A resource that is untapped by the Cahul district in the context of the cooperation between these Euroregions is its tourism potential. Even though the district has certain possibilities and opportunities for tourism development, they have not been identified and capitalized. The evaluation and exploitation of the touristic heritage could contribute to both the general development of the district and the budget consolidation of the localities within the district.

Subject and purpose of work: The subject of this paper concerns theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis of foreign economic activity of the region in the context of Euroregional cooperation, which is an important factor of socio-economic development of the country. The main purpose is to identify such economic categories as “foreign economic activity activation of the region”, “organizational and economic mechanism activation of foreign economic activity of the region in the context of Euroregional cooperation” as well as to develop a methodological scheme for the diagnostics of foreign economic activity of regions in the context of Euroregional cooperation.

Through its programmes, the European Union supports Euroregions so as to help develop joint projects, meant to enforce the economic and social cohesion. Do these programmes of the Cohesion Policy also support the transition processes towards sustainability? This study examines this aspect, by achieving an overall image of the results of the projects implemented in the "Lower Danube" Euro-region. This work uses the method of mapping the results in order to understand the way in which the cohesion policy supports the Euroregions in terms of territorial cohesion and durable development. Therefore, there are roughly analysed the types of results which prevail and their implications in ensuring the sustainability. This method can be adapted for other territorial structures (towns, regions etc) so as to appreciate the transition towards sustainability of the studied territory. The financial support for ensuring the territorial and social cohesion needs to be rethought depending on the potential and social-economical characteristics of the region.

The research article aims to contribute to the discussion on the process of Europeanization of collective memory. We examine the relationship between non/reflexive memory approaches and cross-border cooperation (CBC) in the triangle Euroregions Nisa and Šumava. We assume that key local agents of CBC defend dialogic remembering approach, therefore contribute to the process of horizontal Europeanization. To test this assumption, we conducted a questionnaire survey with 79 mayors and 52 semi-structured interviews with various agents in CBC in all sides of both Euroregions. Collected statistic data were analysed through the use of crosstabulation. In the interviews were identified multiple discourses on the historical conflicts and CBC. We interpreted both quantitative and qualitative data using the concept of the active border [Müller 2014, 2018] and four models of dealing with the traumatic past [Assman 2010]. We found evidence that traumatic past ceases to be perceived as a barrier and becomes to be seen as a catalyst for CBC. In this process, the following factors were identified as most crucial: structural perception of memory, cross-border socialisation, attachment towards EU project and, above all, generational gap. We prove that the leading supporters of dialogic remembering are representatives of the middle-aged generation of mayors, for whom the re/construction of cross-border relationships have become a lifelong challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Euroregions with the participation of constituent entities of the Russian Federation have been actively created since 1998 and still remain a popular form of developing cross-border cooperation with neighboring countries. Cooperation in the format of Euroregions has been aimed at solving the socio-economic problems of the border regions. However, each individual project of a Euroregion has its specific features. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of cooperation in the format of Euroregions of the European and post-Soviet types, as well as the possibilities of extrapolating the experience of Euroregions with Russian participation. Materials and Methods. The available studies on Euroregions, as well as materials from the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and those of the Euroregions, were used as materials for this research. The comparative analysis as well as SWOT analysis made it possible to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the European-type and post-Soviet-type models of Euroregions and formed the methodological basis of the study. Results. The author has analyzed all the main results of the activities of the Euroregions of the European and post-Soviet types. Conclusions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of each type of the Euroregions have been made. In order to consider the possibility of extrapolating the European experience in establishing Euroregions in the Eurasian space, the cases of two projects of Euroregions, ‘Our Common Home – Altai’ and ‘Transnistria’, have been studied. The conclusions were drawn regarding the interests of both the local authorities and the political elite of the federal center in the development of cross-border cooperation programs, which is an important factor in the successful functioning of the Euroregions with the participation of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Discussion and Conclusion. Analysis of the current state of the Euroregions with Russian participation made it possible to conclude that the format of the Euroregion itself is an effective form of cross-border cooperation. Based on the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Euroregions, recommendations have been produced on organizing cross-border cooperation in the format of Euroregions in the Eurasian space, the most advantageous area for Russia; this can be of practical importance for strengthening bilateral international relations.

In Europe, cross-border cooperation between sub-national organizations offers many experiences, driven by organizations such as the European Union. Today, these experiences present different profiles derived from antiquity, the participating agents (local, regional, national), the level of institutionalization, the economic product or socio-economic reality, the type of interstate relations (friendly and hostile), etc. Basically, this contribution contains a case study that refers to the experience developed by Galicia and the Region of North of Portugal. The main objective is to present its historical evolution, its current institutions and the actors involved. In this way, lessons for other places and areas can be obtained.

The study deals with the problems of Euroregions in the context of their multifunctionality. Multifunctionality is presented by analyzing the institutional structure and objectives pursued. The institutional structure presents the functions of individual Euroregional institutions and the importance of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) as the superior representation of Euroregions. Referring to the objectives, they are presented in the light of the theoretical assumptions adopted for this type of structure, emphasizing that in their implementation there is a “hidden” multifunctionality of the Euroregion. In addition, the implementation of the objectives was verified in practice on the example of direct empirical research carried out in selected Polish Euroregions just after their creation and from the perspective of them operating for several years. Positive opinions in this respect, which prevail as integration awareness and the maturation of the Euroregion increases, support the establishment of such structures and verify their importance for the activation of border areas.

Modern international relations are characterized by integration processes, among which Euroregional cooperation plays an important role. Euroregional cooperation as an element of state policy today occupies a rather important place both in the system of priorities of socio-economic development and in the direction of European integration of Ukraine. Such a policy, on the one hand, is aimed at ensuring the comprehensive development of the regions, and on the other hand, at preserving the territorial integrity of the state. It is implemented on the basis of jointly developed programs of trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation. Active regional development is considered as one of the elements of the pan-European system of priorities, which corresponds to the fundamental integration of states through the integration of Regions. Such activities involve accelerating the socio-economic development of euroregions, personnel and infrastructure training of Regions and the country as a whole to deepen cooperation with the EU, and accelerating European integration processes. Euroregions allow their participants to quickly solve common problems, create flexible, joint economic structures, establish cross-border trade, tourism, and expand cooperation in cultural, social, environmental and other fields. Their functioning is based on the principles of local self-government and cross-border cooperation. The activation of Euroregional ties in the context of integration and the creation of various forms of cooperation have positive results for the regions and for Ukraine as a whole. This makes it possible to modernize economic processes, attract foreign investment and new technologies, and create new jobs, which will lead to competition between products and the region. The integration processes that have recently been observed in Euroregions, in addition to traditional cross-border cooperation, can be distinguished as innovative, which include Euro-regional and cross-border clusters, business incubators, technology parks. All this leads to increased competitiveness of the regions, which leads to increased effective use of the region’s potential.

The concepts of «Euroregion» and «cross-border cooperation». The level of development of interstate cooperation in the region is analyzed; influence of transboundary cooperation on the development of socio-economic, scientific, technical and cultural-educational relations between the neighboring states; the main directions of existing and prospective activities are outlined; the activities of regional public organizations and companies such as the Izmail Investment Promotion Bureau, the Euroregion Lower Danube and others are described.

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Copyright of Economic & Regional Studies/Studia Ekonomiczne i Regionalne is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• The borderland becomes a binder without borders, showing its geographical, social and scientific potential. • The CBC projects concentrated primarily in the area of cultural exchange, human resources development and lifelong learning. • Frontier education can be seen as a new context of modern education. • The cross-border cooperation initiatives have an impact on building the academic cooperation on the frontier region. • The proximity of academic centres provides an opportunity to develop cross-border universities network. Cross-border cooperation was broadly defined by European Union in 1980s. The joint action taken by frontier territories are the key aspects of European integration and are the main aims of maintaining sustainable development in many aspects of life on both sides of the border. This article explores Polish–German cross-border cooperation within the Pomerania Euroregion taking into account educational dimension. In particular, this analysis focuses on involvement of Szczecin universities in the implementation of cross-border Small Projects Funds in years 1995–2022. The presented study analyze 64 projects from among 3,071 shared ones. The article raises important insights into a wide area of research that indicates not only the need to describe and identify the phenomenon of initiated cross-border cooperation of educational institutions within Euroregions, but also reveals the need for a deeper, individual and comparative analysis of many Euroregions and their activities in the field of creating educational policy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euroregion is a transnational cooperation structure between territories located in different countries. Euroregion represents a specific type of cross-bordering region. Nowadays there is a necessity to international cooperation of cross-bordering countries. As for Ukrainian Pridunaviye - international cooperation includes such territories as Ukraine, Moldova and Romania. European Union pays a great attention to transboundaring cooperation. The role of Odessa region in such cross-border cooperation rises. There are a lot of points of contact in such cooperation. Different programs collaborated in such fields as: economy, ecology, science, culture and trade, give additional stimulus to the development of all cross-bordering countries. Cross-border cooperation is the key task of the European priority system.

Today, cross-border cooperation promoted by Euroregions all over the European Union is a consolidating reality. The article focuses on Euroregions as formal organizations in the field of cross-border cooperation. By using a data set of 61 Euroregions considered to be particularly active, the study investigates the characteristics of cross-border cooperation agreements. For each Euroregion, cross-country comparisons take into account the following essential parameters: the number of actors involved in the agreement, their administrative and political nature, as well as the official goals pursued. From a descriptive perspective, the study aims to provide some useful classifications regarding the wide variety of cross-border experiences that have developed in Europe in recent decades. From the analytical perspective, the paper challenges enthusiastic claims that interpret Euroregions as effective political instruments for re-territorialization or new modes of cross-border multilevel governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to smart integration taking place on the Polish–German borderland and, more precisely, the border between the Lower Silesian Voivodeship and the Saxony Länder, which, according to the author, is the result of an evolution of forms of transfrontier cooperation of territorial self-government units. It will analyse the conditions for the emergence of forms of cooperation in the transfrontier area and their evolution in European experiences to date and, after 1990, also with the involvement of Polish territorial self-governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social and political transitions taking place in Central and Eastern Europe post-1989 allowed Poland to develop cross-border cooperation with neighbouring counties. At local- -government level in particular, the Czech Republic then became a key partner. Today, the Polish-Czech borderland resembles those between Poland and Germany, and between Poland and Slovakia, in constituting a model example of innovative cross-border cooperation. While the area first played hosted to Euroregions, it later also fell within European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation. And while collaboration between one local authority and another over the border has evolved particularly dynamically, as-yet untapped potential would seem to remain. Overall, this article seeks to analyse the actors currently operating across the Polish- -Czech border, from a political-science perspective. These are Euroregions (of Nysa, Glacensis, Pradziad, Silesia, Cieszyn Silesia and the Beskids), as well as European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (of Tritia and Novum), and selected units at local government level. The analysis of the transboundary entities, and those engaging in cross-border activity was of a genetic, structural and functional nature, and this facilitated the identification of similarities and differences between the actors concerned, making clear what their specifics are, and what the prospects for cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their location in the peripheral areas of countries, by engaging in local cooperation border areas contribute to the development of the regions, and consequently of European countries, especially in social terms. The complexity of Euroregions as entities and the way in which they function encourages in-depth research and makes them an interesting research area. The main subject of the analysis is the Carpathian Euroregion as an example of socio-economic cross-border cooperation, in particular the characterisation of its genesis, objectives and tasks, institutions and specific nature. Since the Carpathian Euroregion Interregional Union is not an organisation in the meaning of international law and has no legal personality, but is only a form of political cooperation, it performs its tasks formally through the activities of national structures. Despite 26 years of activity of the Euroregion, only the Polish, Slovak and Ukrainian sides have a legal structure enabling cooperation and therefore its effects are visible on the Polish and Slovak sides, as well as on the Polish and Ukrainian sides of the Euroregion. They are essentially only bilateral in nature, and are usually socially, less often economically oriented. The financing of projects with the participation of the Polish side is possible due to the Association of the Carpathian Euroregion Poland, which makes financial resources, mainly from the EU budget, available to local entities for the implementation of micro-projects for the development of tourism, ecology, culture, science and education. The Association also raises funds for the implementation of its own projects, especially those aimed at technical assistance for project recipients and promotion of the Euroregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on Moldovan experience of cross-border cooperation from legal and historical perspectives. Cross-border cooperation initiatives refer to the European Union, Romania and Ukraine. The research investigation examines legal instruments of cross-border cooperation between Moldova and its neighbours, cross-border cooperation programmes and the impact of cross-border cooperation projects towards sustainable development in adjacent areas by helping to reduce differences in standards and by addressing common specific challenges across Moldovan state border. The results and impact of cross-border cooperation are scrutinized through the prism of goals? achievement and de facto engagement leading to learned lessons by actors and revised design for improvement strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study deals with the problems of Euroregions in the context of their multifunctionality. Multifunctionality is presented by analyzing the institutional structure and objectives pursued. The institutional structure presents the functions of individual Euroregional institutions and the importance of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) as the superior representation of Euroregions. Referring to the objectives, they are presented in the light of the theoretical assumptions adopted for t his type of structure, emphasizing that in their implementation there is a "hidden" multifunctionality of the Euroregion. In addition, the implementation of t he objectives was verified in practice on the example of direct empirical research carried out in selected Polish Euroregions just after their creation and from the perspective of them operating for several years. Positive opinions in this respect, which prevail as integration awareness and the maturation of the Euroregion increases, support the establishment of such structures and verify their importance for the activation of border areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses territorial marketing of Euroregions. Websites, one of the marketing tools, were the subject of an analysis. Based on literature research and experiences of the authors, criteria for website assessment have been prepared and 14 Polish Euroregional entities were the subject of an empirical study. An expert binary analysis and a survey in which a group of Polish students participated were used in the study. The study has shown that the websites vary considerably by content, form and navigation. Euroregions with interesting, stylish and modern websites have been identified. These websites are more and more commonly used for territorial promotion, including tourist promotion. After relevant consultations and modifications, the assessment criteria and the research tools that were proposed by the authors can be used in research and can support Euroregional authorities in the improving of marketing communication tools.

Functioning of Polish euroregions for more than 20 years has resulted in differentiation and con¬tinuous enrichment of forms of cooperation within them. This is particularly true in the western borderland of Poland, because we have here a partner of the euroregional initiator of this form of cooperation, ie the German side. On this border it took place among others euroregional speciali¬zation in the form of the so-called: divided cities (Gubin-Guben, Zgorzelec-Gorlitz, Słubice- Frankfurt on the Oder). Among the many directions of cooperation, the main are activities conducive to the development of tourism and recreation, which contribute to the activation of peripheral border regions and the raising of development indicators.