Gülden Erkut, ITU Urban and Regional Planning Deparment Regional Planning Section, Istanbul, Turkey, Ceren Ozgen, Istanbul Technical University, Urban and Regional Planning Department, Istanbul, Turkey
European Union Enlargement and Cross-border Cooperation - A Case Study from Aegean Coast on Cooperation versus Needs-Capacities Gap? (assigned to theme
European integration has challenged many concepts produced by the formation of nation-state and channelled some others to structure the Europeanisation project. Cross-border cooperation is one of those that have a key role in the realisation of this project and highly promoted under European Union regional development policies. However, there are many internal dynamics that affect the success of the cooperation. The domestic legal framework, institutional capacities and local administration traditions of the countries have significant effect in the achievement of enduring cross-border cooperation. This paper presents the result of a field study questioning the relation between sustainable cross-border cooperation and institutional capacities of local governments. In this context, the traditional border concept and expansion of cross-border cooperation is examined in a comparative way through different administration practices of local authorities from eastern and western European countries. Located in the South-eastern Europe and generating a contrast to primary western European examples, cross-border cooperation between Greece and Turkey is selected as a case study. The existing socio-economic backwardness of the border regions of the countries is appraised by using statistical analyses. Secondly, the level of cooperation for joint use of local resources and networking for mutual benefit among the local authorities are examined by interviews and questionnaires considering their current institutional capacities and capabilities. The operational results point out that European Union conditionality is the major driving force behind the establishment of cross-border cooperation. The local governments are more willing to establish domestic cooperation for better fulfilment of public procurement, whereas international cooperation is mostly seen as a resource to enhance cultural-social interaction and art facilities. The needs and institutional capacities gap of the local authorities is a serious burden to gain more benefits from partnership agreements and cross-border cooperation.
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(copyright Gunther Maier) |