Role of euroregions in development of crossborder cooperation KatriLiis Lepik HelsinkiTallinn Euregi

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Role of euroregions in development of
cross-border cooperation Katri-Liis
LepikHelsinki-Tallinn Euregio, manager14.
December 2007, Tartu
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What is a euroregion?

• Euregios, euroregions are a form of EU
  cross-border cooperation (CBC)
• Border with EU or within EU
• Association of regional or local
  authorities/permanent administration/follow the
  law of their respective countries
• Very different tasks, structure, legal bases
• In Estonia there are 7 forms of CBC (incl. 2
  euroregions)

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Roles of euroregions

• a facilitator, network builder, process initiator
• a people to people meeting place
• a cross-border information point for citizens,
  institutions, regional and local authorities
• a driving force for solving daily problems on
  both sides of the border, especially in economic,
  social, cultural and environmental fields
• a supplement to national and foreign policies
• an initiator and moderator of common plans and
  strategies
• a mediator of cross-border issues
• a manager of EU programmes and projects or a
  project applicant

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Roles of euroregions

• a contributor to balanced and spatial development
  especially in issues concerning mobility and
  accessibility to services across the border
• a contributor to competitiveness and growth
• a contributor to integration of the Baltic Sea
  Region on a long term basis
• a builder of research and development (RD)
  networks across borders
• a platform for all three elements of triple helix
  cooperation (public sector, business and high
  schools/universities)

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Euroregions in old EU/in new EU

• small and unstable institutions
• not all have secretariats
• little or no own financing
• project level approach
• political approach political-cultural contacts
• little involved in regional development
• not involved in man.of CBC programs
• lack of long-term planning
• membership limited

• strong institutions
• secretariats, sometimes joint
• own financial resources
• strategic level approach
• practical approach
• involved in regional planning
• often involved in man. of CBC funds
• CBC regions with common identity
• broad involvement of different institutions

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Trends

• CBC structures in BSR are different
• Growing activity of Euroregions in the Baltic
  countries (INTERREG). Russian/Belarusian partners
  still lacking behind
• Role of Euroregions in in general project
  production or hubs for regional development?
• Discussion about the role of Euroregions in the
  management of CBC programs
• Unsolved political problems between countries
• Growing interest from national governments
• Positive example of cooperation between two
  regional organizations (NCM and CBSS)

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CBC as a solution

• Globalisation traditional borders change,
  administrative divisions change, regionalisation
• Together we are stronger, more visible, clever,
  economical, secure
• Historically the twin-regions and cities have
  emerged differently
• Prerequisites geographic proximity, good mutual
  access, common security and business interests,
• Political will, similar cultural context,
  understanding of a language.

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• Thank you!
• Contact
• Helsinki-Tallinn Euregio
• lepik_at_euregio-heltal.org
• www.euregio-heltal.org