Sustainability, Mutual Cooperation and Networking of Bratislava Self-Governing Region under the Centrope Initiative
Author
Strba, Milan
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-10-16
Pages
44
Abstract
Specialet undersøger, hvordan Bratislava selvstyrende region (BSGR) deltager i og drager nytte af det transnationale Centrope-initiativ, der forbinder grænseregioner i fire nabolande for at styrke en fælles centraleuropæisk region. Med udgangspunkt i den slovakiske decentralisering, EU’s samhørighedspolitik og principperne for flerniveaustyring belyses, hvorfor og hvordan BSGR samarbejder på tværs af grænser. Arbejdet kombinerer en teoretisk gennemgang af governance og flerniveaustyring med analyse af Slovakiets lovgivningsmæssige rammer, kortlægning af BSGR’s netværk og roller i Centrope’s strukturer samt indholdsanalyse af strategiske udviklingsdokumenter på nationalt niveau og for BSGR (herunder materialer før og efter Centrope’s etablering). Analysen vurderer, i hvilket omfang Centrope’s dagsordener afspejles i BSGR’s prioriteter, og hvordan samarbejdet understøttes gennem EU’s instrumenter for europæisk territorialt samarbejde (bl.a. med midler fra Den Europæiske Fond for Regionaludvikling). Ud over instrumentelle motiver som adgang til alternative finansieringskilder adresseres også normative motiver som identitetsopbygning. Ifølge den fremlagte argumentation er Centrope af mærkbar betydning for BSGR, især fordi regionens topledelse deltager i Centrope’s beslutningsstrukturer, og fordi dagsordenerne i stigende grad overlapper; specialet vurderer samtidig, hvorvidt disse netværk er bæredygtige, og hvad det kan betyde for BSGR’s fremtidige regionale udviklingsstrategi.
This thesis examines how the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (BSGR) participates in and benefits from the transnational Centrope initiative, which links four neighboring cross-border regions to build a competitive Central European area. Framed by Slovak decentralization, EU cohesion policy, and principles of multi-level governance, the study explores why and how BSGR engages in cross-border cooperation. The approach combines a theoretical review of governance and multi-level governance with analysis of Slovakia’s legal and institutional context, mapping of BSGR’s networking and roles within Centrope structures, and content analysis of key regional and national strategy documents (including materials from before and after Centrope’s launch). It assesses the extent to which Centrope’s agendas are reflected in BSGR’s priorities and how cooperation is supported through European Territorial Cooperation instruments funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Alongside instrumental motivations such as access to alternative funding, the thesis considers normative drivers like identity-building. Based on the argument presented in the text, Centrope is of notable importance for BSGR, particularly due to the participation of regional leaders in Centrope’s decision-making and the growing overlap of agendas; the thesis also evaluates the sustainability of these networks and implications for BSGR’s future regional development orientation.
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