Considerations on the Effects of Cross-border Cooperation on Fostering Local Public Administration. Study-case: Hungarian – Romanian Border Area
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4335/15.3.582-604(2017)Keywords:
local public administration, local communities, cross-border cooperation, Romania-Hungary border area, human resourcesAbstract
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
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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
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