Considerations on the Effects of Cross-border Cooperation on Fostering Local Public Administration. Study-case: Hungarian – Romanian Border Area
Keywords:
local public administration, local communities, cross-border cooperation, Romania-Hungary border area, human resources
Abstract
Local administration is a major actor, both stakeholder and beneficiary, in the cross-border cooperation actions. However, there are very few references in the literature investigating the opinion of public managers and employees involved in implementing cross-border cooperation programs regarding the effectiveness of CBC projects. In this paper we address this issue, by reviewing the relevant literature and mostly by presenting the results of own survey-based researches conducted on field. This article captures the opinion of managers and staff regarding the transformations generated by involvement in cross-border actions in Bihor – Hajdú-Bihar Euroregion.
References
Abrudan, M.-M., Săveanu, T., Matei, M. & Ujhelyi, M. (2015) Obstacles, Realities and Opportunities in Human Resources Management in Public Administration Institutions From Bihor County (Romania) and Hajdú-Bihar County (Hungary), Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 45(E), pp. 5-25.
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) (2000) Practical Guide to Cross-border Cooperation, Third Edition (Gronau: Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and European Commission).
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) (2008) Cooperation between European Border Regions: Review and Perspectives (Baden-Baden: Nomos).
Aston Centre for Europe (2014) Local and Regional Authorities for a Successful Eastern Partnership (Brussels: European Union: Committee of the Regions).
Badulescu, D., Badulescu, A. & Bucur, C.-A. (2015) Considerations on the Effectiveness of Cross-Border Cooperation in Public Order and Civil Protection Services. The Case of the Romanian - Hungarian Border Area, Lex Localis-Journal of Local Self-Government, 13(3), pp. 559-578, https://doi.org/10.4335/12.3.349-371.
Blatter, J. (2004) From spaces of place to spaces of flows. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 28(3), pp. 530–548, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0309-1317.2004.00534.x.
Council of Europe (1980) European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities, Madrid (Strasbourg: Council of Europe), available at: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/106.htm (November 29, 2016).
Council of Europe (2006) Practical Guide to Transfrontier cooperation (Strasbourg: Council of Europe).
Crombez, C. (2003) The democratic deficit in the European Union. Much ado about nothing?, European Union Politics, 4(1), pp. 101–120, https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116503004001583.
Del Bianco, D. & Andeva, M. (2015) Cross-border Cooperation in Europe: Experience, Tools and Practice. In: Dodovski, I. & Hudson, R. (eds.) European Integration: New Prospects (Skopje: University American College), pp. 225-238.
Del Bianco, D. & Jackson, J. (2012) Cross‐border Cooperation Toolkit (Strasbourg: Council of Europe).
Dobre, A.-M. (2008) Designing and justifying regional reforms: lessons from Romania, Policy and Politics, 36(4), pp. 587-600, https://doi.org/10.1332/147084408X349783.
European Commission (2013) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. Strasbourg, COM (2013) 301 final 2013/0156.
European Commission (2015) Territorial Cooperation in Europe. A Historical Perspective (Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union).
European Parliament (2006) Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. Official Journal L 310, 09 11, Title II, Article 6.
Feier, F. & Badulescu, A. (2016) The HU-RO Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013: Insights Related to the Effectiveness of Using the European Funds, Oradea Journal of Business and Economics, 1(1), pp. 47-57.
Ferry, M. & McMaster, I. (2013) Cohesion Policy and the Evolution of Regional Policy in Central and Eastern Europe, Europe-Asia Studies, 65(8), pp. 1502 – 1528, https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2013.832969.
Gargan, J. (1981) Consideration of Local Government Capacity, Public Administration Review, 41(6), pp. 649-658.
Gasparini, A. & Del Bianco, D. (2011) Strategies and Euroregions for Cross-Border Co-Operation in Balkan and Danube European Countries. An analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (Gorizia: Institute of International, Sociology of Gorizia).
González-Gómez, T. & Gualda, E. (2016) Reporting a bottom-up political process: Local perceptions of crossborder cooperation in the southern Portugal–Spain region. European Urban and Regional Studies, 23(3), pp. 468–480, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776413518781.
Groenendijk, N. (2016) Governance Across Regional Borders: Which Models are Best Suited to Central and Eastern Europe? In: J. Nemec, ed. Europeanisation in Public Administration Reforms (Bratislava: NISPAcee, The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), pp. 23-36.
Hoffman, I. (2015) Bevezetés a területfejlesztési jogba (Budapest: ELTE Eötvös).
Houtum, H. & Strüver, A. (2002) Border, strangers, doors and bridges, Space and Polity, 6(2), pp. 141–146, https://doi.org/10.1080/1356257022000003590.
I.S.I.G. (2013) Manual on removing obstacles to CBC (Gorizia: Institute of International Sociology Gorizia).
Jaansoo, A. (2016) Public Administration Reform, Cross-border Cooperation and Europeanisation in CEE Countries, In: Nemec, J. (ed.) Europeanisation in Public Administration Reforms (Bratislava: NISPAcee, The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), pp. 37-49.
Jacoby, W. (2006) The Enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Ordering from the Menu in Central Europe (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
Jesuit, D. & Sych, L. (2012) Local economic development and cross-border networks, International Journal of Public Sector Management, 25(6/7), pp. 473-482, https://doi.org/10.1108/09513551211260667.
Lawrence, R. (2011) Deriving collaborative aims and outcomes: A case - study of cross-border cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, Evaluation, 17(4), pp. 365–382, https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389011421927.
Lepik, K.-L. (2009) Euroregions as Mechanisms for Strengthening Cross-border Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, Trames, 13(3), pp. 265-284, https://doi.org/10.3176/tr.2009.3.05.
Lepik, K.-L. & Krigul, M. (2009) Cross-border cooperation institution in building a knowledge cross-border region, Problems and Perspectives in Management, 7(4), pp. 33-45.
Medve-Bálint, G. (2013) Incentives and Obstacles to Cross-Border Cooperation in Post-Communist Central Europe, In: Bellini, N. & Hilpert, U. (eds.) Europe’s Changing Geography. The Impact of Inter-Regional Networks (London and New York: Routledge), p. 145–170.
O’Dowd, L. (2001) Analysing Europe’s Borders. IBRU Boundary and Security Bulletin, Summer 2001, available at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.464.5621&rep=rep1&type=pdf (December 12, 2016).
O’Dowd, L., McCall, C. & Damkat, I. (2006) Sustaining Cross-Border Cooperation: A Cross-Sectoral Case Study Approach, University College Dublin, Institute for British-Irish Studies: IBIS Working Paper No. 61, MFPP Working Papers No. 11. (Dublin: University College Dublin, Institute for British-Irish Studies).
Oplotnik, Z. J., Brezovnik, B. & Vojinovic, B. (2012) Local Self-Government Financing and Costs Of Municipality In Slovenia, Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 37 E, pp. 128-142.
Perkmann, M. (2003) Cross-Border Regions in Europe: Significance and Drivers of Regional Cross-Border Co-Operation, European Urban and Regional Studies, 10(2), pp. 153-171, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776403010002004.
Pikner, T. (2008) Reorganizing Cross-Border Governance Capacity. The Case Of The Helsinki–Tallinn Euregio, European Urban and Regional Studies, 15(3), pp. 211-227, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776408090414.
Sørensen, E. & Torfing, J. (2009) Making governance networks effective and democratic through meta-governance, Public Administration, 87(2), pp. 234–258, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2009.01753.x.
Svensson, S. (2015) The Bordered World of Cross-border Cooperation: The Determinants of Local Government Contact Networks within Euroregions. Regional & Federal Studies, 25(3), pp. 277-295, https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2015.1043995.
Wallace, W. & Smith, J. (1995) Democracy or technocracy? European integration and the problem of popular consent, In: Hayward, J. (ed.) The Crisis of Representation in Europe (London: Frank Cass), pp. 137–157.
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) (2000) Practical Guide to Cross-border Cooperation, Third Edition (Gronau: Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and European Commission).
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) (2008) Cooperation between European Border Regions: Review and Perspectives (Baden-Baden: Nomos).
Aston Centre for Europe (2014) Local and Regional Authorities for a Successful Eastern Partnership (Brussels: European Union: Committee of the Regions).
Badulescu, D., Badulescu, A. & Bucur, C.-A. (2015) Considerations on the Effectiveness of Cross-Border Cooperation in Public Order and Civil Protection Services. The Case of the Romanian - Hungarian Border Area, Lex Localis-Journal of Local Self-Government, 13(3), pp. 559-578, https://doi.org/10.4335/12.3.349-371.
Blatter, J. (2004) From spaces of place to spaces of flows. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 28(3), pp. 530–548, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0309-1317.2004.00534.x.
Council of Europe (1980) European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities, Madrid (Strasbourg: Council of Europe), available at: http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/Html/106.htm (November 29, 2016).
Council of Europe (2006) Practical Guide to Transfrontier cooperation (Strasbourg: Council of Europe).
Crombez, C. (2003) The democratic deficit in the European Union. Much ado about nothing?, European Union Politics, 4(1), pp. 101–120, https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116503004001583.
Del Bianco, D. & Andeva, M. (2015) Cross-border Cooperation in Europe: Experience, Tools and Practice. In: Dodovski, I. & Hudson, R. (eds.) European Integration: New Prospects (Skopje: University American College), pp. 225-238.
Del Bianco, D. & Jackson, J. (2012) Cross‐border Cooperation Toolkit (Strasbourg: Council of Europe).
Dobre, A.-M. (2008) Designing and justifying regional reforms: lessons from Romania, Policy and Politics, 36(4), pp. 587-600, https://doi.org/10.1332/147084408X349783.
European Commission (2013) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. Strasbourg, COM (2013) 301 final 2013/0156.
European Commission (2015) Territorial Cooperation in Europe. A Historical Perspective (Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union).
European Parliament (2006) Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. Official Journal L 310, 09 11, Title II, Article 6.
Feier, F. & Badulescu, A. (2016) The HU-RO Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013: Insights Related to the Effectiveness of Using the European Funds, Oradea Journal of Business and Economics, 1(1), pp. 47-57.
Ferry, M. & McMaster, I. (2013) Cohesion Policy and the Evolution of Regional Policy in Central and Eastern Europe, Europe-Asia Studies, 65(8), pp. 1502 – 1528, https://doi.org/10.1080/09668136.2013.832969.
Gargan, J. (1981) Consideration of Local Government Capacity, Public Administration Review, 41(6), pp. 649-658.
Gasparini, A. & Del Bianco, D. (2011) Strategies and Euroregions for Cross-Border Co-Operation in Balkan and Danube European Countries. An analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (Gorizia: Institute of International, Sociology of Gorizia).
González-Gómez, T. & Gualda, E. (2016) Reporting a bottom-up political process: Local perceptions of crossborder cooperation in the southern Portugal–Spain region. European Urban and Regional Studies, 23(3), pp. 468–480, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776413518781.
Groenendijk, N. (2016) Governance Across Regional Borders: Which Models are Best Suited to Central and Eastern Europe? In: J. Nemec, ed. Europeanisation in Public Administration Reforms (Bratislava: NISPAcee, The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), pp. 23-36.
Hoffman, I. (2015) Bevezetés a területfejlesztési jogba (Budapest: ELTE Eötvös).
Houtum, H. & Strüver, A. (2002) Border, strangers, doors and bridges, Space and Polity, 6(2), pp. 141–146, https://doi.org/10.1080/1356257022000003590.
I.S.I.G. (2013) Manual on removing obstacles to CBC (Gorizia: Institute of International Sociology Gorizia).
Jaansoo, A. (2016) Public Administration Reform, Cross-border Cooperation and Europeanisation in CEE Countries, In: Nemec, J. (ed.) Europeanisation in Public Administration Reforms (Bratislava: NISPAcee, The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe), pp. 37-49.
Jacoby, W. (2006) The Enlargement of the European Union and NATO, Ordering from the Menu in Central Europe (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
Jesuit, D. & Sych, L. (2012) Local economic development and cross-border networks, International Journal of Public Sector Management, 25(6/7), pp. 473-482, https://doi.org/10.1108/09513551211260667.
Lawrence, R. (2011) Deriving collaborative aims and outcomes: A case - study of cross-border cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, Evaluation, 17(4), pp. 365–382, https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389011421927.
Lepik, K.-L. (2009) Euroregions as Mechanisms for Strengthening Cross-border Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region, Trames, 13(3), pp. 265-284, https://doi.org/10.3176/tr.2009.3.05.
Lepik, K.-L. & Krigul, M. (2009) Cross-border cooperation institution in building a knowledge cross-border region, Problems and Perspectives in Management, 7(4), pp. 33-45.
Medve-Bálint, G. (2013) Incentives and Obstacles to Cross-Border Cooperation in Post-Communist Central Europe, In: Bellini, N. & Hilpert, U. (eds.) Europe’s Changing Geography. The Impact of Inter-Regional Networks (London and New York: Routledge), p. 145–170.
O’Dowd, L. (2001) Analysing Europe’s Borders. IBRU Boundary and Security Bulletin, Summer 2001, available at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.464.5621&rep=rep1&type=pdf (December 12, 2016).
O’Dowd, L., McCall, C. & Damkat, I. (2006) Sustaining Cross-Border Cooperation: A Cross-Sectoral Case Study Approach, University College Dublin, Institute for British-Irish Studies: IBIS Working Paper No. 61, MFPP Working Papers No. 11. (Dublin: University College Dublin, Institute for British-Irish Studies).
Oplotnik, Z. J., Brezovnik, B. & Vojinovic, B. (2012) Local Self-Government Financing and Costs Of Municipality In Slovenia, Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 37 E, pp. 128-142.
Perkmann, M. (2003) Cross-Border Regions in Europe: Significance and Drivers of Regional Cross-Border Co-Operation, European Urban and Regional Studies, 10(2), pp. 153-171, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776403010002004.
Pikner, T. (2008) Reorganizing Cross-Border Governance Capacity. The Case Of The Helsinki–Tallinn Euregio, European Urban and Regional Studies, 15(3), pp. 211-227, https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776408090414.
Sørensen, E. & Torfing, J. (2009) Making governance networks effective and democratic through meta-governance, Public Administration, 87(2), pp. 234–258, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2009.01753.x.
Svensson, S. (2015) The Bordered World of Cross-border Cooperation: The Determinants of Local Government Contact Networks within Euroregions. Regional & Federal Studies, 25(3), pp. 277-295, https://doi.org/10.1080/13597566.2015.1043995.
Wallace, W. & Smith, J. (1995) Democracy or technocracy? European integration and the problem of popular consent, In: Hayward, J. (ed.) The Crisis of Representation in Europe (London: Frank Cass), pp. 137–157.
Published
2017-06-28
Issue
Section
Article
It is a condition that the authors assign copyright or license the publication rights in their articles, including abstracts, to Institute for Local Self-Government Maribor. This enables us to ensure full copyright protection and to disseminate the article, and of course Journal, to the widest possible readership in print and electronic formats as appropriate. Authors retain many rights under the Institutes' right policies, which can be found at journal.lex-localis.press. Authors are themselves responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyright material from other sources.
