Open AccessExploring cross-border cooperation in Eastern Europe: What kind of initiatives have developed in the Romanian-Hungarian border area?
Author(s) -
Elena Grad-Rusu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
észak-magyarországi stratégiai füzetek
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2560-2926
pISSN - 1786-1594
DOI - 10.32976/stratfuz.2021.33
Subject(s) - cross border cooperation , romanian , european union , context (archaeology) , political science , regional science , international trade , economic growth , geography , business , economics , philosophy , linguistics , archaeology
Since the beginning, the European Union has believed and promoted the idea that an increase in cross-border cooperation contributes to enhanced European integration. This means that cross-border cooperation supports sustainable development along the EU’s internal and external borders, helps reduce differences in living standards and addresses common challenges across these borders. The aim of this paper is to examine the cross-border initiatives between Romania and Hungary with a special focus on the INTERREG projects, which have provided new sources of funding for cross-border activities and regional development in the RomanianHungarian border area. In this context, the cooperation has intensified in the last two decades, especially since Romania joined the EU in 2007. The research proves that cross-border projects and initiatives represent an important source of funding for this type of intervention, when no similar funding sources are available.